Indigo Milk Cap
(Lactarius indigo)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | not listed |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Indigo Milk Cap is a widespread but uncommon, distinctively colored mushroom. In the summer and fall it can be found on the ground alone, scattered, or in groups, in oak and pine woodlands. It grows on the roots of hardwoods, including oak, ironwood, and blue beech; and pines. When young the cap is convex or depressed at the center and the margin is rolled inward. It is deep blue or medium blue and often has concentric rings of color. It is smooth, dry, and 2″ to 6″ in diameter. It is sticky or slimy when wet and exudes a bright dark blue latex or “milk” when cut. The latex eventually turns dark green when exposed to air. As the cap ages it becomes flat or vase-shaped, the color fades to silvery-blue, and it may develop greenish stains. The flesh is whitish-blue. It stains blue when it is cut, then slowly turns green. It is edible and tastes mild to slightly bitter. The gills are bright dark blue when young, becoming pale as they age, then yellowish at maturity. They are closely spaced and widely attached to the stalk, slightly running down the stalk on mature mushrooms. The stalk is bright dark blue, silvery-blue, or grayish-blue, rigid, ¾″ to 3⅛″ long, and ¾″ to 1″ in diameter. It is slimy when young but soon becomes dry. It often develops irregular pits. It becomes hollow when it ages. The spore print is creamy yellowish. |
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Similar Species |
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| Indigo Milk Cap is the only milk cap mushroom that “bleeds blue”. | ||
Habitat and Hosts |
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Deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests. On the ground. Hardwoods, including oak, ironwood, and blue beech; and pines. |
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Ecology |
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Season |
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July to October |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 9/20/2021 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Widespread but not common |
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Taxonomy |
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| Kingdom | Fungi (fungi) | ||
| Subkingdom | Dikarya | ||
| Phylum | Basidiomycota (club fungi) | ||
| Subphylum | Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms) | ||
| Class | Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies) | ||
| Subclass | Agaricomycetidae | ||
| Order | Russulales | ||
| Family | Russulaceae (milkcaps, brittlegills, and allies) | ||
| Genus | Lactarius (common milkcaps) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo indigo) Smaller Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo diminutivus) |
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Synonyms |
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Agaricus indigo Lactarius canadensis |
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Common Names |
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Blue Lactarius Blue Milk Mushroom Indigo Lactarius Indigo Milk Cap |
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Glossary
Mycorrhizal
A symbiotic, usually beneficial relationship between a fungus and the tiny rootlets of a plant, usually a tree.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this fungus. |
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Lorna |
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Only one found among pines. |
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Chris McKibben |
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only one I could find. Surrounded by pine trees. Not sure on tree species. |
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Joan |
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By white pine |
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Mannix family |
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Rapidly growing to 4” in diameter approximately 10’ up the bank from the lake’s edge. Mostly conifer and birch forest. |
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Tammy |
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this mushroom is huge and beautiful! |
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Murphy |
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near pine tree in yard. |
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magic mountain mushroom hunters |
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near 5 point lake |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Cap |
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Gills |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this fungus. |
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Other Videos |
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| Lactarius Indigo Mushroom foxfirevalleyvineyrd |
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About
Published on Jul 2, 2015 Lactarius Indigo Mushroom also known as Indigo Milk Cap. I found these while cleaning a fence row. I think they are one of the most beautiful and fascinating mushrooms in the woods. |
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| Larry Grand - Lactarius indigo under a log Bryan Cody |
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About
Published on May 30, 2014 This video is about Larry Grand - Lactarius indigo under a log |
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| Edible Blue Mushroom: Lactarius Indigo! David The Good |
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About
Published on Aug 12, 2015 More on Lactarius indigo, the edible blue mushroom, can be found in the great mushroom foraging books here: http://www.thesurvivalgardener.com/the-best-mushroom-foraging-books/ So - is this blue mushroom edible? Yes! Lactarius indigo (the indigo milk cap), the incredible edible blue mushroom, is a beautiful blue mushroom with a flavor something like a portobello, though the texture is somewhat grainier. Indigo milk caps are a rare wild food found beneath hardwoords. These particular mushrooms were found in the same field of open woods and grass where I've found Lactarius indigo two times in the past. Once you find a patch of indigo milk caps, keep checking back - chances are you'll find them again in the future. Foraging for mushrooms is a great hobby... why not start today? Caution: Don't eat any wild mushrooms without checking with a local expert! I'm just this guy on YouTube, you know? For more foraging, wild mushrooms, gardening and homesteading inspiration, visit www.thesurvivalgardener.com. |
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| Lactarius indigo (the indigo milk mushroom) Wild, edible mushroom in Tx Falcorr |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 10, 2009 smells like blueberries and taste soo good. they grow only in the woods under oak trees in tx. would go good on alfredo |
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| Lactarius indigo sporeprints |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 9, 2011 |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this fungus. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Joni Keim 10/10/2023 |
Location: Aitkin MN |
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| Treble Skep 9/13/2022 |
Location: Bemidji, Minnesota two groups in mature white pine & Norway pine woods. |
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| kmjd 10/4/2021 |
Location: Antonio, MN |
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| Lorna 9/30/2021 |
Location: Rice County, Lonsdale Only one found among pines. |
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| Chris McKibben 9/19/2021 |
Location: Ottertail County, South of Frazee only one I could find. Surrounded by pine trees. Not sure on tree species. |
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| Joan 8/30/2020 |
Location: Hennepin County By white pine |
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| Mannix family 8/29/2020 |
Location: Sand Lake in the town of Sturgeon Lake MN, Pine County Rapidly growing to 4” in diameter approximately 10’ up the bank from the lake’s edge. Mostly conifer and birch forest. |
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| Joan 10/6/2019 |
Location: Dayton, MN By pine trees in my front yard. First time I’ve seen them. |
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| Tammy 9/27/2019 |
Location: Nisswa, MN this mushroom is huge and beautiful! |
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| Carrie Olson 9/14/2019 |
Location: Park Rapids MN Backyard under a spruce tree |
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| Murphy 9/23/2018 |
Location: Zimmerman MN near pine tree in yard. |
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| Scott Lucas 9/17/2018 |
Location: Deerwood, MN (Larsen Lake) |
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| magic mountain mushroom hunters 8/20/2016 |
Location: Hackensack, MN near 5 point lake |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created 10/10/2016
Last Updated: