ridity. It is somewhat viscid or sticky in character, and
permeates to some extent the whole flesh of the mushroom, but is most
profuse in the gills, where in fresh young specimens it is seen exuding
on the slightest pressure. In old or wilted specimens it does not flow
so freely, but may be found by breaking off portions of the cap.

The plants usually present a fleshy cap, the flesh quite brittle, and
breaking in clean, even fractures. In a number of the species the upper
surface of the cap shows bands or zones of warm coloring, not found in
any of the species of the allied genus Russula. The gills are sometimes
even, more often forked, acute on the edge, color white or whitish, but
changing to yellowish or reddish tints as the plants mature, or when cut
or bruised. While they are at first adnate they become, with the
expansion of the cap, somewhat decurrent, showing in this particular a
resemblance to the plants of the genus Clitocybe. The stem is central,
except in a few species, where it is eccentric or lateral, notably the
latter in L. _obliquus_; spores white or yellowish, according to
species; Cooke says, "rarely turning yellow." They are globose, or
nearly so, and slightly rough.

This genus is a large one, and contains many acrid species. Out of
fifty-three described and figured by Cooke, more than half are given as
having the milk more or less acrid. More than forty species have been
recorded as growing in this country, and many of these are extremely
acrid in taste.

A number of the species are edible, while others have been recorded as
deleterious, poisonous, etc. L. torminosus, L. piperatus, and L.
insulsus are species about which there seems to be difference of opinion
among authors as to their wholesomeness or edibility, some contending
that, in spite of their extreme acridity, they are edible when cooked,
and others that they are deleterious in their effects. L. _deliciosus_
and L. _volemus_ have a good reputation in this country as well as
abroad, and are quite abundant in some localities. They are more
frequent in temperate climates than in northern latitudes or in the
tropics.

[Illustration: Plate V.
LACTARIOUS DELICIOSUS.
1 General form. 2 Section. 3 Spores.]

PLATE V.

=Lactarius deliciosus= Fries. "_Delicious Lactarius_" _or_ "_Orange
Milk Mushroom_."

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, viscid, at first convex, then nearly plane, becoming much
depressed in the cen