Species details

Fenugreek milkcap

Lactarius helvus

Conditional / expert preparation

Description

A brownish milkcap with a dry finely granular to felted cap, watery almost colourless latex and a very distinctive strong spicy smell.

Identification features

The cap is light brown, becomes broadly depressed early and is dry. Gills are initially pale, later pinkish brown. The stem is similar in colour to the cap. Latex is watery and may be sparse in old fruitbodies.

Identification checklist

Check the dry light-brown finely granular cap, broad central depression, watery colourless latex and very strong smell reminiscent of seasoning or fenugreek. Smell is supportive rather than diagnostic on its own.

How to separate similar species

Other brown milkcaps differ in latex colour and changes, cap surface, tree association and smell. Old specimens with little latex are harder to identify reliably.

Habitat

In damp coniferous woodland, often with spruce and at higher elevations; summer and autumn.