Notes on the genus Lactarius from the Rocky Mountain alpine zone in regard to Finnish arcticalpine species

Authors: Cripps, Cathy & Barge, Ed
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 53 (2013), Issue 1-2, pages 29-37.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.2013.455
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Key words: ectomycorrhizal, North America, Rocky Mountains, Russulales, Salix, arctic-alpine mycology

Abstract: Lactarius is an important ectomycorrhizal genus (Basidiomycota, Russulales) and a subset of species occur in arctic and alpine habitats. These species are well known in Europe, Greenland, Svalbard and Scandinavia; however there is scant information from the Rocky Mountain alpine zone in North America. Here we report five Lactarius species from above 3000 m at latitude 45° N in the northern Rockies and above 3700 m at latitude 36° – 38° N in the southern Rockies. Lactarius lanceolatus, L. nanus, L. salicis-reticulatae and L. repraesentaneus are reported with Salix species and L. glyciosmus with Betula glandulosa. All have been recorded from Finland at 68 0–70 0 N at much lower elevations (300-1000 m) in the alpine, subarctic and subtemperate zones.