Content
Mushrooms of the genus Lactarius (lat. Lactarius) acquired their name due to the milky juice that emerges when broken. It is released from the pulp of the cap or stem; many fruiting bodies have a milky hue. The sticky milkweed (the milkweed is gray-green, the milkweed is slimy) also secretes a white liquid, which, when in contact with air, quickly turns into an olive-gray composition.
Where does the sticky milkweed grow?
This species is widespread in deciduous and mixed forests of Western and Eastern Europe, including in Russia. It appears from August to September in Asian countries.Most often found in the vicinity of beech or birch. Grows in the mountains of Asia.
What does a gray-green milk mushroom look like?
The cap (5-10 cm) of the sticky milkweed is flat, depressed in the center. The edges droop down over time. The grayish-green surface is covered with dirty specks arranged in a circle. The skin becomes sticky and shiny after rain. The inner surface is covered with plates that smoothly pass onto the stalk, which grows up to 6 cm. At first they are whitish, but if you touch them with your hand, they immediately turn brown. When cut, a whitish juice is released along the edges of the plates; in air, the emulsion hardens and changes color.
The leg resembles a curved cylinder, expanding downwards. It is lighter than the cap, dense, with white flesh, and has an indefinite taste and smell.
An adult milkweed has a hollow leg
Is it possible to eat sticky milkweed?
This mushroom is considered conditionally edible in Russia. Some mushroom pickers collect it for salting and pickling. But mycologists do not exclude the possibility of poisoning and therefore some do not recommend it for collection.
But the fruiting body continues to be studied until toxic properties have been identified. In M. Vishnevsky’s “Handbook for a Beginning Mushroom Picker,” all laticifers are edible. In European countries, on the contrary, most mushrooms of this species are considered inedible.
False doubles
There are many similar species in the Russula family. They most often differ in size and shades of color on the surface of the cap:
- The sticky milkweed has similarities with the olive-black variety, or, in other words, with the black milk mushroom. But this species is larger: the cap reaches 20 cm in diameter, and the leg grows up to 8 cm. The cap is darker, brown in the middle, and in places black.
- The dimensions of the wet milk mushroom are approximately the same as the proportions of the olive-gray milk mushroom. They differ in the color of the cap. The gray-purple milk mushroom has a surface that changes from gray to gray-violet.
The gray-green milk mushroom has no poisonous counterparts. But if you are not sure that a particular species is edible, it is better to pass by.
Rules for collection and use
When collecting sticky milkweed, you need to use a knife: they carefully cut off the stem without disturbing the mycelium. Then next year, at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, in this place you can collect 2 times more of these mushrooms. They grow as a family, at a distance of 1-3 m from each other. Large varieties are visible from afar, while small ones are hidden under the foliage. Mushrooms are eaten salted and pickled. Before processing, soak in cold water for 2-3 days to get rid of the bitter taste. They are not dried or fried.
Conclusion
The sticky milkweed is not poisonous. But its abuse can lead to dire consequences, since it is a heavy food. Should not be used by small children or pregnant women. It is not recommended to include it in the diet of people with diseased kidneys, liver and gall bladder.
