False Saffron Milkcap

Habitat

This mushroom is specifically associated with spruce trees, occurring in spruce plantations, coniferous woodlands, and mountainous regions. It is typically found growing on soil in small groups or trooping patterns.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

Measuring 4 to 15 cm across, it begins convex and matures into a funnel shape with an inrolled edge. Its orange surface features concentric rings or blotches, is slightly sticky when moist, and develops significant green staining with age or when bruised.

Stem

3 to 6 cm long, stout, and cylindrical or slightly tapered. It is colored like the cap and often features darker orange pits or indentations and green blotches.

Gills

Crowded and slightly running down the stem. They are orange-yellow, bruising green or slowly turning orange after damage.

Flesh

Pale yellow to carrot-colored. When cut, it transitions to a pale wine-red color within 10 to 30 minutes, turning dark wine-red after about an hour, and eventually greenish.

Milk

Carrot-orange and sparse, with a bitter or resinous taste. It slowly turns a dull wine-red color after exposure.

Spore print

Pale yellow to ochre.

Smell

Sweet and fruity, reminiscent of carrots.

Edibility

This mushroom has a bitter, resinous, or carroty flavor and is frequently infested with larvae. It is often confused with the Saffron Milkcap, though it uniquely stains dark wine-red over time and bruising develops greenish patches. While consumption in large amounts may cause urine to turn red, this is not a health risk.

Nutrient Source

This mushroom forms a symbiotic relationship with trees, exchanging nutrients with their roots.

Common Names

Danish

Gran-mælkehat

Dutch

Peenrode melkzwam

English

False Saffron Milkcap

Finnish

kuusenleppärousku

French

Lactaire de l'épicéa

German

Fichtenreizker

Norwegian Bokmål

granmatriske

Norwegian Nynorsk

granmatriske

Swedish

granblodriska, blodriska

Welsh

Cap Llaeth Saffrwm Ffug