About this fungus
Liver Milkcap is a fungus in the Russulaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small, dry-looking pine milkcap with a uniform liver-brown to reddish chestnut cap, often with a low central point. Pale ochre gills release white latex when damaged.
What to check
Check the matt, unzoned liver-brown cap, pale attached to slightly decurrent gills, reddish stem base and pine habitat. White latex slowly yellows on the gills, flesh or white paper in the European concept, but the reaction can be weak.
Variation
The cap ranges from dark red-brown to purplish chestnut and may look slightly silvery when dry. The central point can be obvious or absent. Latex volume and yellowing speed vary with age, dryness and geographic population.
Lookalikes
Lactarius musteus is generally paler and often has a pitted stem. Lactarius rufus and other red-brown conifer milkcaps overlap in cap colour. Some North American material formerly called Lactarius hepaticus may be Lactarius atrobadius, so non-European records deserve microscopic or molecular checking.
Habitat and range
Mycorrhizal on acidic woodland or heath soil, usually with pine and more rarely with spruce in Europe. Reports from North America use a broader and partly unresolved concept, so the European latex reaction should not be assumed worldwide.
Food safety
Inedible.