Lactarius acerrimus

Lactarius acerrimus Britzelm. (illustrated 35% life size) Cap 8–15cm across, somewhat globose when young, becoming convex and eventually funnel- or crater-shaped, often strongly and rather irregularly waved or lobed, margin inrolled at first, very soon hairless; buff, often with an ochre or yellowish tint, paler at the margin, usually with several ill-defined ochre to tawny concentric bands; very firm, slightly sticky when moist. Stem 20–60×20–40mm, short and thick, frequently excentric to almost lateral; whitish, later mottled or entirely buff to pale ochre; solid or with one or more small cavities. Flesh whitish; very firm. Gills slightly decurrent, well-spaced, the sides strongly reticulately wrinkled, the wrinkles often joining the gills and giving a pore-like appearance near the stem and the cap margin; rosy buff, later tawny or cinnamon. Milk white; taste burning hot, smell fruity, suggesting overripe pears. Spores 10.5–13.5×8.5–10¼, ovate; strong warts joined by thick ridges or thin lines to form a fairly well-developed but rather incomplete network unusually large for a Lactarius. Spore print deep cream (D–E). Basidia two-spored. Habitat with broad-leaved trees, especially oak; summer to early autumn. Uncommon. Unknown edibility.