Lactarius mairei

Lactarius mairei Malençon. (illustrated 45% life size) Cap 3–11cm across, centrally depressed from young; creamy yellow in colour and lightly zoned; fleshy, conspicuously hairy towards the margin. Stem 15–40×10–15mm, hollow; concolorous with the cap, but lighter. Flesh soft, creamy; taste acrid after a while, smell fruity. Gills subdecurrent; pale cream. Milk white. Spores 6–9×4.5–7¼, subglobose; distinct strong network of broad ridges. Spore print cream. Habitat with oaks on calcareous soils; late summer to early winter. Rare, vulnerable on Red Data List. Not edible.