About this fungus
Fiery Milkcap is a fungus in the Russulaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A greyish-ochre milkcap with a shallowly depressed, slightly greasy cap, most characteristic beneath hazel.
What to check
Cut or break the moderately spaced cream-buff gills and look for copious white latex that dries grey with a faint greenish tinge. Confirm a smooth, ringless stem and a hazel host. The cap is usually unzoned or only faintly zoned.
Lookalikes
Lactarius circellatus is usually more clearly zoned and is associated with hornbeam. Coconut Milkcap has a coconut-like odour and is associated mainly with birch. Several grey-brown milkcaps overlap in appearance, so tree host, latex behaviour and microscopy may all matter.
Habitat and range
Mycorrhizal with hazel, particularly in hazel woodland, coppice, mixed broadleaved woodland and hedgerows. Reports away from hazel need careful comparison with related milkcaps.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
Tigran Mitr am / CC BY 2.5