North American species of Lactarius / L. R. Hesler, Alexander H. Smith.

Subgenus Lactifluus

203

Spore deposit color unknown (not given in original description).
Spores (from type) 7.5-9 X (5.5)6-7 u, ellipsoid, lacking a distinct
plage, or some with a faint diffusely amyloid patch; ornamentation of
fine small warts and some of these connected by faint fine lines,
prominences under 0.2,u high.
Basidia 45-52 X 7.5-9 tu, 4-spored. Pleurocystidia: macrocystidia
(?) of the intermediate type, mostly buried in the hymenium and best
seen near the gill edge, 45-60 X 5-7.5 ju, fusoid-acuminate or (often)
with constrictions near apex; typical pseudocystidia not found. Cheilocystidia scattered, similar to pleurocystidia. Gill trama with inconspicuous lactifers, no rosettes observed. Pileus trama heteromerous,
lactifers inconspicuous; no dextrinoid debris or incrustations present.
Pileus cuticle of narrow interwoven hyphae giving rise to a tangled turf
of ~ erect thick-walled septate, + unbranched hyphoid elements ~
150 X 3-4 IA; also some shorter broader elements with granular content
present (ends of lactiferous hyphae?).
Habit, habitat, and distribution.-On dry ground in mixed woods,
July, Alabama, Earle.
Observations.-As previously stated (see L. vellereus), the above
account is drawn entirely from the type and type description to avoid
any further confusion. The species was misunderstood by Burlingham
and by Coker. On the basis of the type and original description, the
following are the diagnostic characters: (1) the downy stipe featuring
the turf described above-this feature places the species in this section,
(2) the very acrid taste of the latex, (3) the copious pale yellow latex,
(4) the tendency for the cap to stain yellowish to tan, (5) the downy
surface of the pileus, (6) the narrow, close, often forked gills, and
(7) the very low spore ornamentation of mostly isolated warts.
Material cited.-ALABAMA: Earle, in pine-hardwood forest, July
24, 1897, Auburn (type and isotype, NYS); KANSAS: Haard 442
(MICH); MAINE: Homola 5589 (MICH); MASSACHUSETTS:
Bigelow 7403, 14711 (all MASS); MICHIGAN: Hoseney 2647 (MICH);
Patrick 3640 (MICH); Potter 3543, 12767 (MICH); Smith 75952,
84257.
51a. Lactarius subvellereus Peck var. subdistans var. nov.
Illus. Pls. 42-43; fig. 217.
Pileus 5-15 cm latus, subinfundibuliformis, siccus, velutinus,
albus; contextu albus demum luteus, acer; latex cum "KOH" aurantioluteus; lamellae distantes vel subdistantes demum fulvomaculatae;
sporae 7-9(9.5) X 5-7,u. Specimen typicum in Herbarium University of
Michigan conservatum; legit prope Highland, Oakland County, Michigan, 8 Aug 1972, Smith 81387.