Birch Milkcap
Birch Milkcap - Lactarius tabidus
Small milkcap associated with Birch, with orange-brown cap, often radially wrinkled around small umbo; older specimens may have crenulate margin. Gills adnate-decurrent, crowded, pale orange to yellowish, sometimes pinkish. Milk white and mild tasting to slightly acrid, staining yellow on exposure to air. If the milk is tested on a white handkerchief or paper tissue it dries yellowish after a short while.
There are several other orange or red-brown Lactarius.
Photograph from top down, in side view and from underneath to show gills and full length of stipe. Note cap texture, smell, colour and taste of milk, and whether colour of milk changes on exposure to air (this may take some time). You must note the tree species under which it was found.
Birch
Late summer and autumn.
Widespread and common in Britain.
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Additional images
No additional images available for this species.




