Lactarius pallidus - Pale Milkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Lactarius pallidus is found in deciduous woodland, mainly under beech trees. It has a very slimy cap when wet, drying to a smooth gloss. The pale, flesh-coloured cap has a fruity scent.

Some authorities suggest that this milkcap is edible if well cooked; others record it as inedible. In view of the greater abundance of so many superior mushrooms, it does not seem worth the risk.

Identification Guide

A small group of Lactarius pallidus - Pale Milkcap

Although an infrequent find, where the Pale Milkcap does occur it is often in sizeable groups.

A surprising feature of the Pale Milkcap is that even for caps of the same size the stems are very much more variable in diameter than those of most other milkcaps.

	Cap 4 to 10cm in diameter, convex and then depressed, the cap is pale buff with a rosy, flesh-coloured tint, sometimes with indistinct circular zoning near the rim. The surface of the cap is smooth; it is slimy in wet weather and usually remains sticky but with a glossy shine during dry spells.
	Gills Shortly decurrent and fairly crowded, the gills are pale rosy buff or pale ochre and occasionally, but not always, blotchy. This milkcap releases copious amounts of white latex that is usually, but not always, quite mild tasting.
Stem	1 to 2.5cm in diameter and 3 to 8cm long, the stem is more or less cylindrical or tapering in slightly at the base. The stem surface is smooth and paler than the cap; it tends to become hollow with age.
Spore print	Pale ochre.
Odour/taste	Slight fruity smell; the milk (latex) usually has a mild taste.
Habitat	Deciduous woodland, mainly under beech trees.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Lactarius musteus is a similar but much rarer milkcap; its stem is pitted, it leaves a pale cream spore print, and it occurs under pine trees.