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Orange Millechnik belongs to the russula family, the genus Millechnik. The Latin name is lactarius porninsis, which means “giving milk”, “milk”. This mushroom was called so because its pulp contains vessels with milky juice, which, if damaged, flows out. Below is more detailed information about the orange lactarius: a description of the appearance, where and how it grows, whether this specimen can be eaten.
Where does the orange milky grow
This species tends to grow in coniferous and mixed forests, it prefers to form mycorrhiza with spruce, less often with deciduous trees, for example, with birches or oaks. Also, quite often, orange lacquers can be found deeply buried in a moss litter. The orange milky (Lactarius porninsis) can grow either one at a time or in small groups. The best time to grow is from July to October. Most often appears in countries of Eurasia with a temperate climate.
What does the orange milkman look like?
If damaged, this specimen secretes white juice.
The photo shows that the fruiting body of the orange milky consists of a cap and a leg. At the initial stage of maturation, the cap is convex with a noticeable central tubercle, gradually acquires a prostrate shape, and by old age it becomes depressed. In some cases, it is funnel-shaped. Throughout the entire time, the cap does not reach large sizes, as a rule, it varies from 3 to 6 cm. The surface is smooth and dry, it becomes slippery during heavy rain. Colored in a characteristic orange color with a darker center. There are no concentric zones. On the underside of the cap there are descending, medium-frequency plates. In young specimens, they are pale cream in color, and with age they acquire darker shades. Spore powder, light ocher color.
The pulp is thin, brittle, fibrous, yellowish. It emits a subtle aroma reminiscent of orange peels. It is this feature that makes this species distinguishable from its congeners. This specimen emits a whitish milky sap that does not change its color in air. This liquid is very thick, sticky and caustic. In a dry season, in mature specimens, the juice dries out and may be completely absent.
The leg of the orange lactarius is smooth, cylindrical, tapering downward. It reaches a height of 3 to 5 cm and a thickness of 5 mm in diameter. The color of the leg matches the color of the cap, in some cases it is slightly lighter. In young specimens, it is whole, with age it becomes hollow and cellular.
Most often inhabits coniferous and mixed forests
Is it possible to eat orange milky mushroom
Experts have different opinions about the edibility of this species. So, in some reference books, information is indicated that the orange milky is an edible mushroom, but most sources confidently attribute it to the category of inedible, and some mycologists even consider this species to be weakly poisonous.
How to distinguish from doubles
The fruit body of the orange lactarius exudes a faint citrus aroma.
A huge variety of mushrooms is concentrated in the forest, which in one way or another may be similar to the species in question. It is worth remembering that not every specimen is edible. The orange miller has common external features with many inedible and even poisonous relatives of the Millechnik genus, and therefore the mushroom picker should be especially vigilant. This mushroom can be distinguished from its counterparts by the following characteristic features:
- small caps of orange color;
- subtle orange pulp aroma;
- milky juice has a rather pungent taste;
- cap is smooth, without pubescence.
Conclusion
The orange milky is a rather rare specimen, the pulp of which exudes a slightly perceptible orange aroma. In Europe, most specimens of this genus are considered to be inedible or even poisonous. In our country, some of them are edible, but are consumed after careful processing in pickled or salted form. Active fruiting of this species begins in July and ends around October. During this period, other gifts of the forest grow, the edibility of which is not questioned. This mushroom has no nutritional value, its consumption can provoke food poisoning. That is why the orange milkman is left without the attention of mushroom pickers.
