Lactarius cistophilus is a species of mushroom-forming fungus of the milk-cap genus Lactarius in the family Russulaceae. Found in Mediterranean Europe, it was described as new to science in 1978.
Lactarius cistophilus was first described as a new species by Marcel Bon and Jacques Trimbach in 1978. The specific epithet cistophilus derives from Greek roots meaning "rockroseâÂÂloving", alluding to its characteristic association with shrubs of the genus Cistus.
Fruit bodies of L. cistophilus are modest in size, with caps 2âÂÂ5 cm in diameter. The cap is initially convex before flattening and becoming distinctly funnelâÂÂshaped, the margin remaining involute when young. Its surface is finely hairy and somewhat viscid, showing a greyâÂÂviolet to dirty brownishâÂÂviolet hue that often fades to ochre at the centre with age. The crowded gills (lamellae) are adnate to slightly decurrent, starting pale cream and turning buff. The stipe measures 2âÂÂ4 cm long by 0.7âÂÂ1.5 cm wide, is cylindrical to clubâÂÂshaped, hollow and silky, white overall but sometimes faintly ochreâÂÂtinted at the base, and bears a delicate, transient white ring. The flesh is whiteâÂÂslightly ochre at the stipe baseâÂÂwith a mild taste and only a faint odour. Under the microscope, spores are amyloid, 7.5âÂÂâÂÂ8.5 by 4.5âÂÂ5.5 üm with an interrupted reticulum, and the gill faces bear large, bottleâÂÂshaped cystidia.
Lactarius cistophilus is known from Mediterranean maquis and garrigue, where it forms ectomycorrhizal partnerships with Cistus shrubs on wellâÂÂdrained, often siliceous soils. At the time of its original description, it had been recorded primarily in the Provence region of southern France, though Bon suggested that further field surveys in similar western Mediterranean habitats may reveal a broader range. It has since also been reported from Italy, and Spain.