Saffron Milkcap - Lactarius deliciosus

A large orange-milked milkcap associated with Pine.  Cap convex and then depressed; salmony-orange, bruising green; surface granular becoming sticky when wet. Young caps have inrolled margins and are pinkish-orange. Older specimens are vase-shaped with sharpish rims, and they often develop faint pistachio-green irregular patches. The gills of this milkcap are shortly decurrent, crowded and orange, staining green when bruised. When cut, the gills release bright red-orange carrot-coloured latex that may turn wine red after more than 30minutes. . The stipe is similarly coloured to the cap and pitted with small orange marks.

False Saffron Milkcap (L deterrimus) is similar but usually grows under Spruce, not Pine, and is common in VC55.  The Carrot Milkcap Lactarius quieticolor is smaller, and the milk always turns reddish after 20 minutes, then dries greenish; it is scarce in VC55

milk/host

Photograph from top down, in side view and from underneath to show gills and full length of stipe.  Note cap texture, smell, colour and taste of milk, and whether colour of milk changes on exposure to air (this may take some time).   You must note the tree species under which it was found.

Under pine.

Autumn.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.