Peppermint Lactarius (Lactarius piperatus)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Branch: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (Uncertain)
- Order: Russulales
- Family: Russulaceae (Russula)
- Genus: Lactarius (Miller)
- Species: Lactarius piperatus (Breast pepper)
Synonyms:
- Lactifluus piperatus
Peppermint Lactarius piperatus) – a mushroom of the genus Mlecnik (lat. Lactarius) family
Description
Hat ∅ 6-18 cm, at first slightly convex, then more and more funnel-shaped, in young specimens with folded edges, which then straighten and become wavy. Creamy White Peel colors, matte, often covered with reddish spots and cracks in the central part of the cap, smooth or slightly velvety. The pulp is white, dense, brittle, very sharp in taste. With an incision, it emits a pungent milky white juice, slightly yellowing or not changing color when dried. FeSO4 solution stains the pulp in a creamy pink color, under the action of alkalis (KOH) color does not change. Leg 4-8 cm tall, ∅ 1.2-3 cm, white, solid, very dense and narrowing at the base, its surface smooth, slightly wrinkled. The plates are narrow, frequent, descending along leg, sometimes bifurcated, there are many short plates. Spore powder white, spores 8.5 × 6.5 μm, ornamented, almost rounded, amyloid.
Variability
The color of the hat is completely white or creamy. The plates are first white, then cream. The leg is white, over time often covered with buffy spots.
Ecology and distribution
Peppermint breast – mycorrhiza with many by the trees. Common mushroom. Grows in rows or circles in moist and shaded deciduous and mixed forests, much less often in conifers. Prefers well-drained clay soils. It occurs in the middle lane, to the north less often. Season summer — fall.
Similar species
- Fiddler (Lactarius vellereus) and aspen breast (Lactarius controversus) – conditionally edible mushrooms with buffy plates colors.
- bluish breast (Lactarius glaucescens) with white milky juice, when dried, becoming grayish-green. Milky juice L. glaucescens from a drop of KOH acquires a yellow color.
Food quality
Often considered inedible due to its very pungent taste, although its can be consumed as conditionally edible after careful processing to remove bitterness, it goes only to salting. Mushrooms can be eaten in 1 month after salting. It is also sometimes dried, triturated and used as a hot seasoning instead of pepper.
Healing properties
Peppermint lumps depressing effect on tubercle bacillus. IN in folk medicine, this mushroom was slightly roasted for the treatment of kidney stone disease. Peppermint also used in the treatment of cholelithiasis, blennorrhea, acute purulent conjunctivitis.
