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

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North American Species of Lactarius

staining will be found in the type variety of L. salmoneus when it
becomes better known. It is worth noting that the spore size for L.
curtisii as given by Coker is practically identical with that which
Hesler found in Peck's type of L. salmoneus. However, the spore
difference as we have found it is so slight that it may not stand up as
significant from an examination of a more adequate sample of specimens. We have found this degree of difference constant for taxa in
some species complexes but not in others. Also, Coker's measurements were not made on spores mounted in Melzer's reagent.
The white epicuticular covering of the pileus is the outstanding
feature of both taxa. In both taxa we find vertical to ascending
hyphae single or in tufts arising from the pilear epicutis but no
trichoderm worthy of the name was present in either one. These elements become matted down in age and finally the layer is eroded. The
layer is highly suggestive of a veil though it was never observed to
cover the gill cavity. It is not distinct anatomically from the cuticular
region of the pileus, but the entire region features very intricately interwoven much-branched relatively uninflated hyphae forming a layer
quite unusual for the genus. The other characters of the two taxa are
routine for the subgenus and, in our estimation, do not justify recognizing two species.
Material cited.-ALABAMA: Earle & Baker, Lee County, July
(type NYS); SOUTH CAROLINA: Curtis 1293, 2883 (all FH).
2a. Lactarius salmoneus var. curtisii (Coker) comb. nov.
Lactarius curtisii Coker, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 34: 41. 1918.
Illus. Coker, I.c., pl. 26 (as L. curtisii); Hesler & Smith (1960a),
pl. 12, lower fig. (as L. salmoneus). Pls. 12-13; fig. 203.
"Cap 1.5-6 cm., usually about 3.5-5 cm. wide, deeply depressed
(umbilicate) in center, the margin inrolled until maturity or after,
sometimes expanded in age, rounded or nearly plane, often irregular
and with a deep sinus on one side; surface quite smooth, dry, and
chalky looking, azonate, chalk-white except for the brownish-yellow
stains, turning light or orange salmon when bruised. Flesh quite
firm and solid, about 8 mm. thick near stem in large plants, turning a
deep orange salmon near the gills when cut, light orange salmon elsewhere, in age not turning salmon; mildly peppery when young, hardly
so when old. Milk scant, a beautiful deep orange salmon, mildly
peppery, disappearing in age.
"Gills moderately close to somewhat distant, not forked, slightly
decurrent, only about 3 mm. deep in large plants; color when young a