False Saffron Milkcap

Edible

Autumn

Summer

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False Saffron Milkcap, Lactarius deterrimus

Not as good as the true Saffron Milkcap but a tasty find none the less and more common.

Mushroom Type
Common Names	False Saffron Milkcap (EN), Spruce Milkcap, Cap Llaeth Saffrwm Ffug (CY), Mleczaj Świerkowy (PL), Lucfenyvesi Rizike (HU)
Scientific Name	Lactarius deterrimus
Season Start	Aug
Season End	Nov
Average Mushroom height (CM)	10
Average Cap width (CM)	8

Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.

Cap

Orange with concentric darker or lighter lines with green patches. Starting convex but soon developing a depression in the middle and becoming ‘funnel’ shaped.

Gills

Orange and slightly decurrent, fairly crowded and bruising green.

Milk

The milk is carrot orange, turning to wine red after about half an hour then eventually turning green.

Stem

Orange and smooth unlike the pitted stem of the true Saffron Milkcap.

Flesh

Orange at the edges then white and usually hollow in the stem.

Habitat

With coniferous trees, especially Spruces and Pines.

Possible Confusion

The Saffron Milkcap (Lactarius deliciosus), pictured, but the Saffron Milkcap has pits on the stem unlike the False Saffron Milkcap.
The poisonous Woolly Milkcap (Lactarius torminosus) but this has ‘woolly’ edges to the cap that extend in towards the stem and has off white milk not carrot coloured.
The Lactarius semisanguifluus is similar but has more red than orange milk.