Lactarius Indigo is mycorrhizal - which means, like Chanterelles and probably Morels - this blue mushroom's mycelium creates a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of a nearby tree or trees. Having said that, there are some other Lactarius that could be mistaken, theoretically, for this mushroom, and so best practice is to go through all of the identification steps, as always!īut the internet and wild mushroom lovers everywhere will fight us on this one. In the case of Lactarius indigo, the color of the mushroom and its amazing hue of its milk, almost seal the deal as far as identification is concerned. Indeed, that is the primary indentifier for inclusion in the Lactarius genus - every Lactarius species exudes some kind of milk or latex when cut or damaged, as long as they have received enough rain. The reason this mushroom is called the Indigo MILK mushroom is because when you damage the gills or cut the flesh it exudes a kind of milky, latex like substance. The really amazing stuff happens when you damage the mushroom The astonishing blue color of Lactarius indigo is only part of its allure. As a result, I've never seen one in person, so the photos in this post are all wikicommons with citations at the bottom. Sometimes it will be found in the Appalachian Mountains, although I have yet to be so lucky. This fungal miracle grows in Eastern and Southern North America, but primarily down on the gulf coast in Mexico. You may need to look closely as detritus can sometimes adhere to the cap and keep the mushroom obscured from view. Stumble upon this beauty in the forest and you won't be able to resist its charms. One of the most beautiful mushrooms on earth.
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