Lactarius deliciosus

Lactarius deliciosus, known variously as either the Delicious Milk Cap or the Saffron Milk Cap is an autumn species best sought in pine forests, where it sometimes occurs in large groups, although it also appears, sometimes in abundance, beneath oak trees even in areas where the soil is thin. Young caps with their exaggeratedly inrolled margins are generally considered the best ones for eating.

Cap	The caps are 6 to 20 cm in diameter; convex and then depressed; reddish orange, bruising green; surface granular becoming sticky when wet. Young caps have inrolled margins and are pinkish-orange. Older specimens often develop faint green patches.
Gills	The gills of this milk cap are shortly decurrent, crowded and bright orange, staining green when bruised. When cut, the gills release bright red-orange (carrot coloured) latex that eventually turns wine red.
Stipe	Hollow and relatively short, 5 to 8 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm diameter, the stem has a surface marked with orange pits, especially near the base.
Spore print	Pale pinkish buff.
Odour/taste	Fruity smell; the milk (latex) has a mild taste, becoming bitter after a while.
Habitat	Coniferous woodland, particularly under pines.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Infrequent, but usually in groups.
Similar species	Lactarius torminosus is more pink, has a woolly cap margin and is always close to birch trees. Lactarius deterrimus has a smooth stem; its mild milk is pinkish-orange.

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Lactarius deliciosus

Cap

Gills

Stipe

Spore print

Odour/taste

Habitat

Season

Occurrence

Similar species