Lactarius piperatus

Lactarius piperatus, the Peppery Milk Cap, has very crowded gills. This feature clearly distinguishes it from another fleecy-surfaced milk cap, Lactarius vellereus.

Much too hot and peppery for most western European palates, this mushroom is quite popular in India and in certain eastern European countries. It can be dried and used as a substitute for pepper.

This occasional species of deciduous woodland sometimes grows in rings but more often as solitary specimens or in very small groups. Its very crowded, thin gills distinguish it from other pale milk caps.

Cap	10 to 16 cm in diameter, convex with a tightly inrolled margin and later depressed or funnel-shaped, the creamy-white caps have a fine matt surface. Older specimens often develop reddish patches. Beneath the cap cuticle the white flesh is thick and brittle.
Gills	The very narrow, decurrent, crowded gills are a distinguishing feature of this milk cap mushroom; they are white at first, becoming brown with age. When damaged, the gills exude very hot and acrid white milk that turns pale green after an hour or two.
Stipe	2 to 3 cm in diameter and 4 to 8 cm tall, the fairly smooth stems taper in slightly towards the base; they become hollow as the fruiting body ages.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	No distinctive odour; a very hot and peppery taste.
Habitat	Broad-leaf woodland.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Lactarius vellereus has a fleecy cap and its stem is relatively short. Lactarius pubescens has a pink tinge to the cap and gills; it has a woolly inrolled margin and a less strongly acrid taste.

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Lactarius piperatus

Cap

Gills

Stipe

Spore print

Odour/taste

Habitat

Season

Occurrence

Similar species