Pine Milkcap

Pine Milkcap Lactarius musteus Fr. (illustrated 45% life size) Cap 4–10cm across, at first flattened convex, soon with a depression, margin inrolled, later incurved, even and regular to somewhat irregular; whitish to pale buff with a slight flesh tinge, in places with pale ochre tinges; very firm, thick, surface slightly felty, sticky when moist. Stem 30–80×10–35mm; concolorous with the cap, often with a broad band of pale rosy buff, with a watery appearance below the gills, sometimes with scattered, oval, fawn spots; fairly hard, with a large cavity, surface sticky when moist, smooth, with a network of fine, translucid veins. Gills slightly decurrent, rather narrow, closely spaced, often forked near the stem; pale creamy with slight rosy buff tinge, pale greyish-olive after several hours where bruised. Milk abundant; white, becoming dull olive on the gills after several hours; taste mild but after a while very slightly hot. Spores 8–9×6.5–7¼, elliptical; warts joined by thin to thickish ridges that tend to run across the spore and form a loose partial network. Spore print pale cream (C). Habitat with pine; late summer to early autumn. Uncommon, endangered on Red Data List. Edible if cooked.