Lactarius deterrimus

Lactarius deterrimus is a large milk cap with carrot-coloured gills and greenish tints as it matures. A distinctive feature is the latex ('milk), which changes from carrot-orange to dark red as it dries. Common in coniferous woodland, this species favours spruce and pine habitats.

Commonly referred to as the Spruce Milk Cap, because it only occurs under fir trees and nearly always in spruce plantations, this is a species that can carpet large areas of forest floor

The green clouding on caps of Lactarius deterrimus is present even in very young specimens.

Cap	6 to 12 cm in diameter, convex and then depressed, the cap is yellowish orange zoned with darker areas and nearly always with green patches. Mature specimens sometimes irregular, develop wavy margins.
Gills	Shortly decurrent, crowded, bright orange, staining green when bruised, the gills release orange latex that turns wine red and eventually dark green.
Stipe	5 to 10 cm long and 8 to 12 mm in diameter, the stem surface is smooth and, unlike Lactarius deliciosus, not pitted. There is usually a somewhat paler band near to the top of the stem.
Spore print	Pale pinkish buff.
Odour/taste	Fruity smell; the milk (latex) is bitter and acrid.
Habitat	Fir woodland, particularly spruce plantations.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Frequent; often in very large groups.
Similar species	Lactarius torminosus is more pink, has a woolly cap margin and is always close to birch trees. Lactarius deliciosus has a pitted stem and green areas on the cap only in older specimens.

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Lactarius deterrimus

Cap

Gills

Stipe

Spore print

Odour/taste

Habitat

Season

Occurrence

Similar species