Lactarius rufus - Rufous Milkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Lactarius rufus, the Rufous (meaning foxy red) Milkcap, is found in great abundance beneath spruce, pine and occasionally birch trees in areas where the soil is acidic. The milk (latex) is very strong, and the hot acrid taste makes this milkcap quite inedible. This is one of the hottest of all milkcaps, so taste only a little piece for identification purposes or your tongue might explode! (In some eastern European countries this large and very common mushroom is dried and used as seasoning.)

Identification Guide

	Cap 4 to 10cm in diameter, the dark reddish-brown caps are dry and have a slightly rough surface. Convex at first, the caps become funnel-shaped as the fruiting body matures. There is nearly always a prominent central umbo once the cap has expanded and become funnel shaped.
Gills	The pale reddish-cream gills are weakly decurrent and crowded. As they mature , the gills tend to become blotchy. When the gills of this milkcap are damaged, a watery-white latex is released; its taste is initially mild but later becomes very hot and acrid.
Stem	5 to 20mm in diameter and 4 to 9cm tall, the stems are smooth and the same colour as the cap or a little paler. There is no stem ring.
Spore print	Pale cream or buff with a salmon pink tinge.
Odour/taste	No distinctive odour but a mild taste that soon becomes very hot and acrid.
Habitat	Coniferous woodland, usually under pines; occasionally under birch..
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Frequent; often in large groups.
Similar species	Lactarius subdulcis is a smaller milkcap sometimes of similar coloration; it occurs under beech trees.