Lactarius piperatus. Fr.
The Peppery Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 128.—Lactarius piperatus. One-third natural size.
Piperatus—having a peppery taste. The pileus is creamy-white, fleshy, firm, convex, then expanded, depressed in the center, dry, never viscid, and quite broad.
The gills are creamy-white, narrow, close, unequal, forked, decurrent, adnate, exuding a milky juice when bruised, milky-white, very acrid.
The stem is creamy white, short, thick, solid, smooth, rounded at the end, slightly tapering at the base. Spores generally with an apiculus, .0002 by .00024 inch.
The plant is found in all parts of Ohio, but most people are afraid of it on account of its very peppery taste. Although it can be eaten without harm, it will never prove a favorite.
It is found in open woods from July to October. In its season is one of the very common plants in all of our woods.