Lactaire

Other Names

Milkcap, red pine, saffron milkcap

Latin Name

Lactarius deliciosus

Usually Found In

UK, Ireland, Europe (particularly Spain, Romania and Turkey), Africa, Central America, Australia, Asia

Season

September to October

Generally looked upon with love or suspicion, Lactarius is a term that groups many mushrooms belonging to one family. The mushrooms grow mainly in Europe and have brittle, dry gills ranging from yellow to orange, starting to go pinky-purple as they age. As if lactating, the mushrooms also produce a milky fluid when cut, which can discolour – probably one of the main reasons why people are sometimes wary.