Lactarius vellereus - Fleecy Milkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Commonly referred to as the Fleecy Milkcap, this very large mushroom occurs solitarily or in small scattered groups in broad-leaf woods. By the time the caps are fully expanded, they are nearly always discoloured and split.

The thick white flesh is hard and has an acrid taste; this is rather surprising, because on its own the latex has a much milder taste. Despite its conveniently large size this species is therefore best treated as inedible.

Identification Guide

	Cap 10 to 25cm (exceptionally more than 30cm) in diameter, this is the largest milkcap that is commonly encountered in the British Isles. The caps are at first convex but soon flatten and become depressed. White at first, discolouring with yellow and eventually brown areas, the caps are covered in fine fleece-like fibres.
	Gills Decurrent and moderately distant, the gills are initially white but soon discolour brown, often in irregular patches. When damaged, the gills exude abundant, mild-tasting white milk (latex).
Stem	Coloured much the same as the cap, the stem is cylindrical or tapers in slightly towards the base and is 2 to 4cm in diameter and 4 to 7cm long.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	No distinctive odour; very mild taste compared with most other milkcaps.
Habitat	Broad-leaf woodland.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Lactarius piperatus is smaller and has very densely crowded gills; it has a very hot (peppery) taste.