Species details

Zoned milkcap

Lactarius zonarius

Inedible
Zoned milkcap – Lactarius zonarius

Photo: Björn S... · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · License

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.

How to separate similar species

Several yellow milkcaps are very similar. Base identification on zoning, latex, gills, stem and habitat together.

Habitat

Grows in open oak and hornbeam woodland on calcareous soils, in summer and autumn.

Fruiting period

July, August, September, October

Similar species

Extended-description sources