False Saffron Milkcap

False Saffron Milkcap - Lactarius deterrimus

Description

A medium to large milkcap associated with Spruce.  Orange/buff caps sometimes zonate, often stained green, with carrot-coloured gills also bruising green.  The milk is carrot-orange changing to dark red in about 10 minutes as it dries.   Flesh tastes unpleasant and bitter. 

Similar Species

other Lactarius with orange milk

Identification difficulty

milk/taste/host

Recording advice

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 flesh, 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.

Habitat

Under Spruce; very occasionally under Pine

When to see it

August to October or November.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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.

All NatureSpot records