Greetings!
I’d like to tell you about wild mushrooms that ooze latex.
Known as “milk cap mushrooms,” these fungi may not seem worthy of anyone’s appetite, though they are certainly a group worth learning!
Milk cap mushrooms form important associations with various trees, and the value of these mushrooms to wildlife (specifically to animals and insects) is high. Additionally, many milk cap mushrooms have been shown to be sources of naturally occurring rubber.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of milk cap mushrooms (at least from the mycophagist’s perspective) is that some of them are edible… and quite delicious! Featured in this new video is a milk cap mushroom that perhaps you’ve been overlooking all these years. If you’re interested in adding a new species to your list, check it out!
Mushrooms grow on all kinds of substrates, including trees, leaves, insects, soil… and hickory husks! This time of year, a yellowish-orange mushroom can be seen fruiting from hickory and walnut debris. Have you seen it? Check out this recent Instagram post to learn more!
Thanks for reading and watching, and as always, thank you for your support!
-Adam Haritan
Paths I Walk 