Fungus · GBIF taxon 7240044
indigo milk cap
Lactarius indigoAlso known as Indigo Milky, Indigo Lactarius, Blue Lactarius, Blue Milk Mushroom
Striking deep blue caps and gills distinguish this woodland fungus across eastern North America and Central America. When flesh or gills sustain a cut, tissue exudes a brilliant indigo latex that slowly oxidizes to a muted dark green. Underground threads form vital mycorrhizal partnerships with surrounding oaks and pines, exchanging soil minerals for tree carbohydrates.
MushroomMycorrhizalForest Fungus
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mycorrhizal symbiotic partner
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnat larvae
- Squirrels
ThreatsDeforestation and soil compaction
HabitatsOak and pine forests, mixed woodlands
Life spanFruiting bodies last 1 to 2 weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyRussulaceae
- SpeciesLactarius indigo
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Gently scratch gills: Scrape a gill lightly to observe the instant ooze of bright blue latex.
- Check host trees: Search forest floors beneath oak and pine stands where mycorrhizal roots connect.
- Observe oxidation: Watch damaged tissue over several minutes as the indigo fluid slowly turns greenish.
Host Plant Homer Edward Price / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Host Plant (c) Chris M Morris, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Oliver Clarke, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oliver Clarke · cc-by
Close Relative (c) dloarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dloarie · cc-by
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