Stats

Lifespan

A few weeks

Size

Medium

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America and Asia

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Warning Colors

Status

Uncommon

About

This blue mushroom grows on the forest floor near the roots of deciduous and pine trees. When its gills are sliced, the fungus secretes a thick, vibrant indigo latex that turns green.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Russulales

Family

Russulaceae

Genus

Lactarius

Species

Lactarius indigo