Saffron Milkcap/Summer/Autumn/ Edible
Scientific Name
Lactarius deliciosus
Family
Russulaceae
Habitat
Grows underneath pine trees
Description
This is a choice edible mushroom, medium to large, orange and funnel-shaped, with brown concentric circles on the top if the cap with occasional green spotting. The stem is orange with darker orange spots or pitting. this mushroom-like the other milkcaps exudes a milky latex when cut or damaged. The milk of the Saffron Milkcap starts carrot orange and then turns swampy green.
Cap:
Convex cap with a depression in the centre. Orange with darker concentric rings. Green areas especially on aging or bruising.
Stem:
Light orange with darker spots or shallow depressions . Sometimes theres green markings on there too.
Gills:
Gills carrot coloured and eventually bruising green. Gills running slightly down the stem (Subdeccurent) and crowded.
Smell:
Slight Mushroomy smell
Spores:
Pale yellow to orange
Uses
as an excellent addition to meals
In food
excellent taste and texture, it may also dye your food a nice orange colour
Harvesting
although generally uncommon in the south it is often found in pine woodland in the south. becoming more prevalent in the north. Avaliable from August to November
Known hazards
none known
Potential lookalikes
Can be confused with the False Saffron Milkcap, The Woolly Milkcap is another that you could confuse this with but this has ‘woolly’ edges to the cap that extend in towards the stem and has off white milk, not Carrot coloured.
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