Woolly Milkcap

Lactarius torminosus

Family: Russulaceae

Also called: Woolly Milkcap, Bearded Milkcap, Pink-Fringed Milkcap

Woolly Milkcap (Lactarius torminosus)
Photo:Tocekas(CC BY-SA 3.0)View original source →

Overview

Pink-zonate cap with shaggy margin and white acrid latex. Causes severe GI upset raw; eaten only after parboiling-and-discard in some traditions. Skip.

Edibility
Toxic
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
mycorrhizal
Typical peak
Sep–Oct

Season

Sep–Nov — typical fruiting months: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Host trees & substrate

  • Mycorrhizal with oak
  • Mycorrhizal with beech
  • Mycorrhizal with hemlock

Where it grows

See live fruiting predictions for Woolly Milkcap on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.