Back Cover

What is it?

Our photographers have been busy exploring the intricacies of the Missouri outdoors. See if you can guess this month’s natural wonder. The answer is revealed below.

Mushroom

On the back cover and right is a peppery milky mushroom (Lactarius piperatus) by Noppadol Paothong. The peppery milky is in season from July through September, grows up to 3 1/4 inches tall and the cap grows up to 6 inches wide. While this mushroom is not considered poisonous, its bitter taste makes it undesirable table fare. Mushrooms of the Lactarius species will secrete a latex, milky substance from any bruise or cut and especially from the gills. To learn more about mushrooms in Missouri, see the links listed below.

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