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Lactarius vietus

 

Lactarius vietus, commonly referred to as the Grey Milk Cap, grows mainly under birch trees. The very hot white milk (latex) discolours grey-green when it dries.

 

The Grey Milk Cap is an occasional species and yet another of the milk caps associated with birch trees. It is most commonly found in damp, shady places.

Cap

4 to 8 cm in diameter, convex and then centrally depressed, the caps are pale purplish-grey or buff-grey and slimy when wet.

Beneath the cap cuticle, the flesh is white or pale buff and rather brittle.

Gills

Adnate or very shortly decurrent, the crowded gills are white or pale yellow, turning brown when bruised.

When damaged, the gills release white milk that dries smoke-grey on the gills.

Stipe

5 to 10 mm in diameter and 5 to 7 cm tall, the stems are smooth and cylindrical; they are rather brittle and easily broken.

Spore print

Pale cream.

Odour/taste

No distinctive odour; hot and peppery taste.

Habitat

Under birch in damp, shady places.

Season

August to October.

Occurrence

Frequent; often in quite large groups.

Similar species

  1. Lactarius blennius is often a greeny-grey colour with a cap banded by droplet-like blotches; it is very slimy during wet weather.

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