Lactarius glyciosmus - Coconut Milkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

The Coconut Milkcap, Lactarius glyciosmus, is an ectomycorrhzal associate of birch trees and possibly also with alders and other broadleaf deciduous trees; it is considered edible but usually occurs in such small numbers that many mushroom foragers leave it in preference for more abumdant mushrooms.

This milkcap is drab and undistinguished, as are so many other mushrooms in this difficult genus, and so the habitat and its unusual odour are key macroscopic characters that should be noted if you want to fine down the identification options.

Identification Guide

Cap	Colour varying between greyish lilac and dull buff; thin-fleshed; convex, flattening initially with an incurved margin, then developing a broad shallow depression, sometimes with a small central pimple; 2 to 5.5cm across. Cap flesh is pale buff rather than white.
Gills	Pale yellow, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, becoming lilaceous grey with age; decurrent, crowded; releasing white latex when damaged.
Stem	Colour as cap but paler; 2.5 to 6.5cm tall and 4 to 12mm dia; cylindrical or slightly clavate and tapering towards apex; fragile; often hollow when old.
Spore print	Creamy-white.
Odour/taste	Odour of coconut; taste mild, becoming slightly hot and bitter after a while.
Habitat	Under broadleaf deciduous trees, mainly birch.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Fairly common.
Similar species	No other pale milkcaps have such a distinctive coconut scent.