Lactarioid agarics

Fenugreek Milkcap

Lactarius helvus

LC Least concern Poisonous 4 images

Characteristics

– Cap expanded to slightly funnel-shaped, dry and felt-like, yellow-brown to grey-brown.
– Gills cream-white, becoming ochre-yellow with age.
– Stem roughly the same colour as the cap or paler.
– Flesh pale, when young exuding watery clear latex from fresh injuries.
– Smells spicy, like liquorice or bouillon cube.

Ecology

Grows in spruce and pine forest, often on moist ground with Sphagnum, but also on rocky ground among reindeer lichen in pine forest. Common throughout the Nordic countries.

Notes

Reported to be mildly poisonous and laxative.

Similar species

Lactarius helvus is the only milkcap in the Nordic countries that exudes watery clear latex. When the fruitbody becomes older, or if the weather has been dry, no liquid at all is released when the flesh is broken.