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Mer's milkweed (Lactarius mairei) is a lamellar mushroom from the Russula family, the genus of the Milky. Its other names:
- breast concentric;
- Pearson milk mushroom.
This type of fruiting body got its name in honor of the famous French mycologist René Maire.
The Mayor's Milky Way looks a lot like a faded wave
Where does the milkweed mushroom grow?
The Mera milky is found in zones with temperate and subtropical climates, in the central and southern regions of Russia, Morocco, Central Asia, Israel, and Europe. Forms a symbiosis exclusively with oaks, growing only next to these trees. The Mayor's milkweed can be found both in deciduous forests and in old parks, in fields near solitary oak trees.The mycelium begins to bear fruit from September to October, and longer in the southern regions.
The Mayor's milkweed loves alkaline, lime-rich soils. Grows in small groups and individual specimens. The mushroom is very rare.
The Mayor's Milky Way loves grassy meadows and forest clearings
What does the milky Mera look like?
The Mayor's milkweed has a dome-shaped cap with neatly curled, abundantly pubescent edges. There is a cup-shaped depression in the center. In mature specimens, the edges straighten out more and more, becoming slightly rounded or straight. Sometimes the cap takes on a funnel shape. The surface is dry, covered with thick needle-shaped pile, which persists throughout the life of the fruiting body. The length of the bristles reaches 0.3-0.5 cm. The diameter of the cap in young mushrooms is 1-2.8 cm, in mature ones - from 6 to 12 cm.
The Mayor's Milky is unevenly colored, with clear concentric stripes that have brighter shades. The color varies from golden cream to beige and reddish brown.
The hymenophore plates are thin, frequent, semi-adherent, sometimes descending along the stalk. They have a creamy, yellowish-sandy and soft golden hue. They often split into two. The pulp is elastic, crunchy, at first tenderly peppery, and then burning in taste, the aroma is richly fruity. The color is whitish-cream or gray. The juice is light, tastes extremely sharp, and is odorless.
The leg is straight or slightly curved, cylindrical in shape. The surface is smooth, velvety, dry. Sometimes a ring of the bedspread is preserved. The color is slightly darker than the cap, and a whitish coating from the root is often observed.Length from 1.6 to 6 cm, thickness from 0.3 to 1.5 cm. Spores are colored milky white.
In mature specimens the leg becomes hollow
Is it possible to eat Mera's milkweed
The Mayor's milkweed is classified as an edible mushroom of category IV. After pre-soaking to remove the caustic juices, it can be used in any dish. When prepared, it has an interesting, slightly islandy taste.
False doubles
The Mayor's milky is very similar to some representatives of the same family.
Bluethroat (Lactarius torminosus). Edible after proper processing. It has a rich pinkish-red color.
The volnushka settles mainly next to birch trees, forming mycorrhiza with them
Oak milk mushroom. Edible. It is distinguished by a smooth cap and uneven, wide hymenophore plates. The color of the legs and plates is reddish-beige, the cap has a creamy sandy, golden color.
The oak milk mushroom has characteristic annular stripes of a darker color with a ragged mesh structure
Rules for collection and use
It is preferable to collect Mera's milkweed in dry weather. Since this species grows in small groups, once you see an adult specimen, you should inspect the area. Carefully push apart the grass and forest floor: you will definitely find some young mushrooms as well. Cut at the root with a sharp knife, without leaving large stumps, unscrew it from the socket with a slight twist of the cap. It is advisable to place them in the basket in rows, with the plates facing up, so that they can be carried home without being crushed.
Before using the Mayor's milkweed in cooking, it should be soaked. This simple procedure allows you to get rid of caustic juice, which can ruin the taste of any dish:
- Sort the mushrooms, peel them, cut off the roots and heavily contaminated areas.
- Rinse and place in enamel or glass containers.
- Fill with cold water and press down with pressure so that they do not float.
- Change the water twice a day.
The process takes from 2 to 5 days. Then the mushrooms should be washed, after which they are ready for further processing.
Mayor's milkweed fermented in jars for the winter
This recipe makes a surprisingly tasty, crispy snack.
Required Products:
- mushrooms – 2.5 kg;
- gray salt, coarse – 60 g;
- citric acid – 8 g;
- water – 2.5 l;
- sugar – 70 g;
- greens and seeds of dill, horseradish, oak leaf, peppercorns, garlic - to taste;
- serum – 50 ml.
Cooking method:
- Pour water over the mushrooms, add 25 g of salt and citric acid, bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes over low heat until they settle to the bottom. Drain the water.
- Prepare the filling by mixing water, salt and sugar.
- Place washed herbs and spices on the bottom of sterilized jars.
- Place the mushrooms tightly in jars, pour boiling solution over them, and add whey on top.
- Close with lids and place in a cool place at a temperature of 18 degrees, without access to sunlight.
- After 5-7 days you can put it in the refrigerator. An excellent snack will be ready in 35-40 days.
You can serve pickled milkweed Mera with boiled or fried potatoes, vegetable oil, and onions.
These mushrooms have a special, milky-spicy taste.
Conclusion
The Mayor's milkweed is a rare mushroom. It is found in subtropical and temperate climate zones, in forests and parks where there are oak trees.It is listed as an endangered species in several European countries. It has no poisonous counterparts; thanks to its unique needle-shaped edge and delicate coloring, it can be easily distinguished from similar trumpets and milk mushrooms. After soaking, it makes excellent pickles for the winter. Particularly tasty in combination with other edible species of laticifers.
