(fenugreek milkcap)
A member of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius.
Milk-cap refers to mushroom-forming fungi of the genera Lactarius, Lactifluus, and Multifurca, all in the family Russulaceae.
Mushrooms are pale brown-grey or beige in colour and funnel-shaped, with colourless, watery milk.
The velvety cap is initially slightly convex (planoconvex), becoming funnel-shaped (infundibuliform) as it matures. It is 4-15 cm in diameter and has a faint zonate (bull's-eye) pattern, beige or light grey at the margins and darkening toward the centre.
Its distinctive smell has been likened to fenugreek, celery, liquorice, etc.
(Components)
• sotolon: A lactone with an extremely powerful aroma compound. It gives the fungus its distinctive odour, also occurs in fenugreek, maple syrup, and lovage. It is present as well in molasses, aged sake and white wine, flor sherry, and roasted tobacco, as well as in maple syrup.
• sesquiterpenes: C15-terpenoids built from 3 isoprene units. Toxic agents, that have an influence on insect activity, most effectively as contact irritants.
(Toxicity)
It is mildly toxic when raw.
Symptoms of poisoning occur within 30 minutes of consumption, with nausea and vomiting accompanied by vertigo and chills.
The toxins are destroyed by thorough boiling, and the species is used in small quantities as a spice after drying.
