Lactarius quieticolor

Morphological Features:

Pileus up to 10 cm in diameter, convex with an incurved margin when young, later plane and infundibuliform in age, pale orange, matte and dry, covered with a whitish pruina on young specimens. Weakly zoned or somewhat satiny.

Lamellae orange but duller than in lactarius deliciosus, adnate to decurrent, staining green on damaged or handled areas, generally crowded and possessing some intercalated lamellulae.

Stipe central, cylindrical, similar in color to the pileus or even duller, tending to become hollow quickly, slightly or not at all scrobiculate.

Flesh firm, pale orange, almost yellowish, exuding an orange latex that turns vinous red upon drying. Stains green in damaged areas, with a pleasant odor and a slightly acrid raw taste.

Habitat:

A species exclusive to pine forests, fruiting profusely under Pinus radiata and commonly harvested while being confused with the "deliciosus". It is known to usually be the first of the "milky caps" to appear, typically around September.

Observations:

Edible, though of lower quality than Lactarius deliciosus. All Lactarius species in section dapetes are collected equally as milky caps, but the differences among them are evident upon closer study; fortunately, they are all edible. Do not confuse it with toxic Lactarius species such as Lactarius torminosus or Lactarius pubescens, both of which have white latex.