Indigo milk capLactarius indigo
blue milk mushroom · indigo lactarius · oreja azul · hongo azul · K’anje jo
Lactarius indigo is a wild edible mushroom that releases blue latex when cut. It grows in association with pine and oak roots and is sold in Mexican markets.[2][3][4][10]
Edible. Eat it cooked. Never eat a wild mushroom identified only from photos.
- Season in Mexico
- HabitatPine and oak forests
- FamilyRussulaceae
How do you identify indigo milk cap?
- Cap
- Measures 5-15 cm. Blue, with concentric zones; initially convex, later flat or funnel-shaped.[3]
- Gills
- Numerous and blue; they fade with age.[2]
- Stem
- Measures 2-8 cm long and 1-2.5 cm thick. Usually bears small pits.[3]
- Flesh
- Pale blue; slowly turns greenish when exposed to air.[2]
- Latex
- Cutting or breaking the mushroom releases indigo-blue latex that turns green on exposure to air.[2]
- Spore print
- Cream.[3]
Can you eat indigo milk cap?
Edible. Eat it only after an expert confirms its identity, and cook it thoroughly; never eat it raw or lightly cooked. These precautions follow NAMA's general guidance for wild mushrooms.[2][8][9]
Where and when does indigo milk cap grow?
Grows on the ground and forms mycorrhizal associations with pines and oaks. Mexican records also include montane cloud forest.[2][3][4]
In Xalapa, Veracruz, fruiting was documented from May through October, with greater abundance in June, July, and September. This record describes a local season.[4]
Widely distributed in North America and Central America. The listed Mexican states have documented records in the consulted sources; this is a partial list.[2][4][5][6][7]
