Lactarius blennius - Beech Milkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Not all milk-caps are attractive; some have drab or even leaden colours. Among the most common and uninspiring of these is Lactarius blennius, a rather slimy milkcap found mainly, as the common name declares, under Beech trees.

Unfortunately, although easily gathered in quantity and also reportedly edible, even when cooked well this is a very mediochre mushroom.

Identification Guide

Cap	Drab greenish-grey or olive-grey with rings of darker watery blotches; convex, developing a slight central depression; 4 to 9cm across.
Gills	White, gradually becoming cream, turning grey-buff when cut; adnate or slightly decurrent; crowded. When damaged the gills release abundant white latex that dries grey.
Stem	Pale grey; cylindrical or tapering slightly towards base; 3 to 7cm long, 0.9 to 2cm dia.; no ring.
Spore print	Cream.
Odour/taste	No significant odour; taste bitter and hot.
Habitat	Under Beeches..
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Very common.
Similar species	Lactarius turpis, the Ugly Milkcap, is darker and develops sepia tinged areas on its gills.