22 October 2007 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Woolly Milk Cap Cap Convex, then depressed or funnel shaped, margin decorated with coarse hairs, pinkish, to about 12 cm across Gills Adnate to decurrent, broad, crowded, pale pinkish Stem Smooth, cylindrical, pinkish, becoming hollow Flesh Firm, whitish, exuding a sparse white milk on cutting Smell Variously described as being like rhubarb or turpentine Taste Hot Season Late summer to autumn Distribution Common Habitat In deciduous woodland, always with birch Spore Print Pale cream Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, with warts and ridges (7.5-9.5) x (5.5-9) µm2 Edibility Poisonous Notes This fungus could be confused with the very rare Lactarius mairei, which occurs with Oak, Lactarius pubescens, which is white, and Lactarius torminosulus which occurs with dwarf Birch. 
22 October 2007 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |