Species details
Zoned milkcap
Lactarius zonarius
Inedible
Photo: Björn S... · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · License
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Description
A yellowish milkcap with distinct concentric zones on the cap and abundant white, acrid latex.
Identification features
The cap is 5–12 cm wide, ochre-yellow to yellow-orange and strongly zoned. Gills start cream and become ochre. The stem is white, smooth and may become cavernous.
Identification checklist
Check dense yellow-orange zoning, white latex that does not change colour, and the acrid character. Tree associates also matter in milkcaps.
Detailed features
- Cap
- The cap is 5–12 cm wide, ochre-yellow to yellow-orange and strongly zoned.
- Hymenophore
- Gills start cream and become ochre.
- Stem
- The stem is white, smooth and may become cavernous.
Size
- Cap diameter
- 5–12 cm
Habitat
Grows in open oak and hornbeam woodland on calcareous soils, in summer and autumn.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October
Ecology
- Host trees
- Oak (Quercus), Hornbeam (Carpinus)
- Soil
- Calcareous
- Notes
- Grows in open oak and hornbeam woodland on calcareous soils, in summer and autumn.
How to separate similar species
Several yellow milkcaps are very similar. Base identification on zoning, latex, gills, stem and habitat together.
Similar species
- Lactarius acerrimus
- Scrobiculate milkcap (Lactarius scrobiculatus) DANGEROUS
- Woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus) DANGEROUS