Saffron Milkcap

Habitat

This mushroom is primarily associated with pines, particularly lodgepole, shore, Monterey, and Bishop pines. It grows on the ground in soil, moss beds, or duff, and is known to inhabit both acidic and alkaline sites, including limestone areas. While typically found in pine forests, some varieties or related species are found in cold, wet coniferous forests among spruce, fir, and hemlock. It usually fruits in scattered groups, clusters, or troops.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

3–15 cm wide; initially convex with an inrolled margin, later flattening or becoming funnel-shaped. The surface is smooth, slightly sticky when wet, and marked with concentric bands or mottling. Color ranges from orange and salmon to rosy-buff, frequently developing dull green or turquoise stains with age or handle.

Gills

Closely spaced and slightly decurrent (extending down the stem). They are pale pinkish-orange, apricot, or saffron, and slowly bruise or stain green when damaged.

Stem

3–7 cm long and 1–3 cm thick; stout and cylindrical, occasionally tapering toward the base. Color is similar to the cap but often paler, sometimes featuring shallow, darker orange spots (scrobiculi), a whitish sheen when young, and green staining.

Flesh

Firm and brittle with a grainy texture. Pale yellow to yellowish-orange, it discolors to carrot-orange or wine-red shortly after being cut before eventually turning dull green.

Milk

Sparse and bright orange (carrot-colored). It may remain orange or slowly turn reddish or wine-colored before eventually staining the mushroom tissue green.

Spore print

Varies from pale yellow or cream to pale ochre.

Odor

Distinctive and pleasant, described as sweet, spicy, or fruity.

Taste

Mild to slightly bitter or slowly acrid.

Edibility

While considered a delicacy in Europe with a spicy, fruity smell and mild to slightly bitter taste, North American varieties are often described as having an off-putting grainy texture and lacking flavor. Younger, firm specimens are less grainy, and slow cooking or blanching can improve texture and remove bitterness. It is frequently infested with insect larvae. It must be distinguished from the poisonous Lactarius xanthogalactus, which has white latex that stains bright yellow, and various lookalikes such as L. deterrimus, L. salmonicolor, and L. rubrilacteus.

Nutrient Source

This mushroom forms a mutually beneficial relationship with trees, exchanging nutrients and minerals from the soil for sugars produced by the tree through photosynthesis. It grows in association with coniferous trees like pines.

Common Names

Basque

esne gorri, esne-gorri, esnegorri

Catalan

Rubeyolas, Rovelló, Paracha, rovellón, pinetell, Pinatell

Dutch

Smakelijke melkzwam

English

Saffron Milk-Cap, Saffron Milkcap

Finnish

männynleppärousku

French

Lactaire délicieuse

German

Echter Reizker

Norwegian Bokmål

furumatriske

Norwegian Nynorsk

furumatriske

Spanish

nízcalo, Mízcalo, Níscalo, enilado de ocote, hongo enilado, míscalo, esnegorri, seta de cardenillo, nizcalo, rovellón, nícalo

Swedish

läckerriska, tallblodriska, läcker riska

Welsh

Cap Llaeth Saffrwm

Synonyms

• Agaricus deliciosus
• Amanita deliciosa
• Galorrheus deliciosus
• Lactarius laeticolor
• Lactarius laeticolor
• Lactarius lamelliporus
• Lactarius lateritius
• Lactifluus deliciosus