Species details
Grey milkcap
Lactarius vietus
Inedible
Photo: Nina Filippova · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A small grey-violet to grey-brown milkcap of birch habitats with abundant white, very acrid latex that stains the flesh grey-green.
Identification features
The cap is 3–6 cm wide, initially grey-violet, later grey-brown and often darker centrally. Gills are ochre-yellowish and brown when pressed. The slender stem starts whitish and later turns greyish.
Identification checklist
Key features are birch habitat, a grey-violet cap and white acrid latex that turns damaged flesh grey-green.
How to separate similar species
Lactarius blennius grows mainly with beech, while Lactarius trivialis is larger and usually in conifer woodland. Tree association is an important clue.
Habitat
Grows on very damp to boggy acidic ground, always associated with birch, mainly in autumn.
Fruiting period
September, October