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Lactarius vellereus |
Lactarius vellereus can grow to 30 cm in diameter, although half that size is more normal. Its gills are much more widely spaced than those of Lactarius piperatus. Commonly referred to as the Fleecy Milk Cap, this very large mushroom occurs solitarily or in small scattered groups in broad-leaf woods. By the time the caps are fully expanded, they are nearly always discoloured and split. The thick white flesh is hard and has an acrid taste. Despite its conveniently large size this species is therefore best treated as inedible. |
Cap |
10 to 25 cm (exceptionally 30 cm) in diameter,
this is the largest milk cap that is commonly encountered in the British
Isles.
The caps are at first convex but soon flatten and become depressed. White at first, discolouring with yellow and eventually brown areas, the caps are covered in fine fleece-like fibres. |
Gills |
Decurrent and moderately distant, the gills
are initially white but soon discolour brown, often in irregular patches.
When damaged, the gills exude abundant, mild-tasting white milk (latex). |
Stipe |
Coloured much the same as the cap, the stem is cylindrical or tapers in slightly towards the base and is 2 to 4 cm in diameter and 4 to 7 cm long. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
No distinctive odour; very mild taste compared with most other milk caps. |
Habitat |
Broad-leaf woodland. |
Season |
August to October. |
Occurrence |
Frequent. |
Similar species |
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