Do you love chocolate? Me too... Especially Chocolate Milky Mushrooms!

This is a Chocolate Milky Mushroom (Lacterius lignyotus) that is in the milk cap genus of mushrooms. They contain latex (milky material) that seeps from the shroom when cut. The latex is different colors, and can turn different colors when exposed to air, depending on the species. It is also called Velvet Milkcap and looks so soft to the touch. Cool! Drew found this specimen on the side of our old county road, back in the forest, on the way home from a walk to what we call Beaver Bog. There are so many poisonous shrooms on our world, that we don't collect them to eat, just to photograph!

These mushrooms are mycorrhizal with spruce and fir, but can also be found growing from rotting wood, which I think this specimen is doing. They appear during late summer and fall. There is a great website, called Ultimate Mushroom, that has great photos and commentary on all kinds of shrooms. Check it out!