Lactarius torminosus (Schaeff.) Pers.
Family: Russulaceae
Om Shamong,  more...
Lactarius torminosus image
National Mushroom Centre  
Mata, M., D. Penjor and S. Pradham. 2010. Fungi of Bhutan. National Mushroom Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Local name: Om Shamong

Edibility: Not recommended

Habitat: Terrestrial and scatted to gregarious.

Description: Cap:  3-8(15) cm wide, depressed cap with incurved margin. The colour is pinkish to light brown with darker hair. The hair is longer at the marginal edge then on surface Hymenophore:  Adnate to subdecurrent gills, white which stains creamy by milk, lamellulae present. Stem:  Up to 5 cm tall, light brown in colour, smooth with white mycelium at the base, semi-hollow, equal and centred positioned.  Flesh: Whitish soft and thin. Milk: White which dries out to be creamy brown.  Spore Print:  Creamy white.

Comments: The peppery taste of this mushroom when raw can blister the tongue if sampled in sufficient quantity. Some authors have reported the species as poisonous or causing "mild to fatal gastroenteritis". L. pubescens is physically quite similar, but can be distinguished by its paler color and smaller spores (6–8.5 by 5–6.5μm. L. controversus has a cap margin that is not as hairy and whitish to cream-colored gills, and larger spores measuring 7.5–10 by 6–7.5μm.