Habitat
This common species is found on soil in broad-leaved and deciduous woodlands. It is most frequently associated with beech trees, where it typically grows in small groups or troops.
Photos
Appearance
- Cap
- 4–10cm wide, initially flattened convex with an incurved margin, becoming centrally depressed or funnel-shaped; colored pale olive, greenish-grey, or dull greenish with darker blotches often arranged in concentric bands; surface is notably slimy when wet and sticky when dry.
- Stem
- 4–7cm long, stout and smooth, often tapering toward the base; colored whitish to pale olive or grey; surface is slimy or sticky.
- Gills
- Crowded and slightly decurrent; initially white, becoming cream to pale buff; bruising brownish-grey or greyish when damaged.
- Flesh
- Whitish in color.
- Milk
- Abundant and white, drying to a grey or grey-green color; taste is very hot and acrid.
- Spore print
- Pale cream, often featuring a slight pinkish or flesh-colored tint.
- Smell
- Faint and sometimes described as slightly spicy.
Sporecast is better in the app
Plan ahead with 10-day forecasts, see what people are finding nearby, get photo IDs, and track your finds.
Edibility
While considered edible if cooked, this mushroom is not recommended by all sources and has been variously described as inedible or mildly toxic. It has a very hot, acrid taste and can be easily confused with the very similar Lactarius fluens, or the extremely hot Fiery Milkcap and Lactarius circellatus.
Misidentification can be fatal. Never eat a mushroom unless you're 100% sure. This information may be inaccurate. Always consult multiple sources.
Nutrient Source
EctomycorrhizalIt forms an ectomycorrhizal association with trees, meaning it lives in symbiosis with tree roots and exchanges nutrients with them.
Common Names
- Basque
- pagadi-esneki berde, pagadi-esneki berdea
- Danish
- Dråbeplettet mælkehat
- Dutch
- Grijsgroene melkzwam
- English
- Slimy Milk-Cap, Beech Milkcap
- Finnish
- pyökinrousku
- French
- Lactaire muqueux
- German
- Graugrüner Milchling
- Norwegian Bokmål
- bøkeriske
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- bøkeriske
- Spanish
- pagardi-esneki berde, lactario mucoso, lactario verde de hayedos
- Swedish
- grönriska
- Welsh
- Cap Llaeth Llysnafeddog
Synonyms
- Agaricus blennius
- Agaricus viridis
- Galorrheus blennius
- Lactarius albidopallens
- Lactarius viridis
- Lactifluus blennius