Species details
Northern milkcap
Lactarius trivialis
Conditional / expert preparation
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A large grey-violet-brown, very slimy milkcap with abundant white latex that dries yellow and becomes strongly acrid.
Identification features
The cap is 6–20 cm wide, fleshy, grey-violet-brown and very slimy. Gills are crowded and may develop greenish spots when damaged. The stem is stout, slimy and becomes hollow.
Identification checklist
Check the large grey-violet slimy cap, stout slimy stem, abundant white latex and possible greenish spotting on damaged gills.
Detailed features
- Cap
- The cap is 6–20 cm wide, fleshy, grey-violet-brown and very slimy.
- Hymenophore
- Gills are crowded and may develop greenish spots when damaged.
- Stem
- The stem is stout, slimy and becomes hollow.
Size
- Cap diameter
- 6–20 cm
Habitat
Grows among moss in conifer woodland in late summer and autumn; rare in Slovenia.
Fruiting period
August, September, October
Ecology
- Notes
- Grows among moss in conifer woodland in late summer and autumn; rare in Slovenia.
How to separate similar species
Lactarius vietus is smaller and characteristically associated with birch. In milkcaps, latex changes, habitat and size are more important than colour alone.