Common names: yellowdrop milkcap, Gold Drop Milk Cap.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Lactarius chrysorrheus (sometimes spelt Lactarius chrysorheus) is a member of the genus Lactarius, whose many members are commonly known as milkcaps. It has recently been given the English (common) name of the yellowdrop milkcap. It is pale salmon in color, poisonous, and grows in symbiosis with oak trees.
Lactarius chrysorrheus is a species of milk cap fungus that produces small to medium-sized fruiting bodies with yellow to orange-yellow caps and white to pale yellow stems. In East and Central Texas, it typically fruits from May to October in association with oak trees, particularly Quercus stellata and Quercus buckleyi. The caps are 1-4 cm in diameter, convex to flat, and often develop a depression in the center. The gills are crowded, narrow, and release a yellow to orange latex when damaged. The fungus is common in the region's deciduous forests, particularly in areas with rich soil and abundant oak trees.
Yellowdrop milkcap (Lactarius chrysorrheus(?)) mushrooms on Chinquapin Trail in Huntsville State Park. Texas, November 3, 2013 Lone Star Trail, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus(?)) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 15, 2017 Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus(?)) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, November 23, 2018 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus(?)) under cedar trees near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, November 24, 2018 813 Lakeview Ln, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus(?)) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 4, 2018 Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Milkcap mushrooms Lactarius chrysorrheus in Huntsville State Park. Texas, November 15, 2019 State Park Rd 40, New Waverly, TX 77358, USA
Milkcap mushrooms Lactarius chrysorrheus(?) on overgrown Forest Road 215B on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, January 14, 2021 Forest Service Rd 215B, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Underside of milkcap mushrooms Lactarius chrysorrheus(?) on overgrown Forest Road 215B on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, January 14, 2021 Forest Service Rd 215B, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cross section of milkcap mushrooms Lactarius chrysorrheus(?) on overgrown Forest Road 215B on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, January 14, 2021 Forest Service Rd 215B, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Dissected milkcap mushrooms Lactarius chrysorrheus(?) on overgrown Forest Road 215B on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, January 14, 2021 Forest Service Rd 215B, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 6, 2021 Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus) with cross section in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 6, 2021 Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus) on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
Cross section of yellowdrop milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius chrysorrheus) on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of Lactarius chrysorrheus in East and Central Texas reveal that the fungus grows in various locations, including state parks and national forests. The mushrooms have been found on trails such as Chinquapin Trail in Huntsville State Park and Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail in Sam Houston National Forest. They often grow under cedar trees or in wooded areas, and have been spotted in Lick Creek Park in College Station. The observations were made during the fall and winter months, from November to December, with some sightings as late as January. Multiple photos were taken of the mushrooms, including cross sections and dissected specimens, providing detailed documentation of their appearance and growth habits. The fungus was found in several locations across East and Central Texas, indicating a relatively widespread distribution in the region.