Bearded milkcap

Lactarius pubescens

A species of Milk-caps. Also known as Woolly milk-cap.

Lactarius pubescens, commonly known as the bearded milkcap, distinguishes itself from many other milkcap varieties by exhibiting a distinctively shaggy rim along the edge of its cap, which contributes to its bearded look. Aside from this unique feature, bearded milkcaps conform to the typical milkcap morphology, characterized by a rounded cap that is often upturned and features a central depression. This species is distributed throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and commonly forms symbiotic relationships with birch trees.

In This Article
Attributes Classification Toxicity Similar Mushrooms

Attributes of Bearded milkcap

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Cap Diameter
4 - 14 cm
Height
3 - 6 cm
Cap
Cap 2.5 - 10 cm wide; convex; white to cream, becoming reddish-orange; sticky and smooth when fresh, azonate; margin with coarse white hairs when young
Cap Shape
Convex, Depressed
Cap Surfaces
Fibrillose-scaly, Slimy or slightly sticky
Gills
Attached to shortly decurrent; crowded; whitish to pale yellow with pinkish tinges; slowly staining brownish ochraceous when bruised
Gill Attachment
Attached
Stem
Stem 2 - 7 cm long, 6 - 13 mm thick; nearly equal or tapered downward; whitish to ochraceous, pinkish; silky, becoming hollow with age, smooth
Stem Shapes
Tapering
Stem Surfaces
Smooth to slightly fibrous
Flesh
Firm; white
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
Cream to pale ivory, occasionally with a faint salmon-pink tinge
Odor
Faintly reminiscent of turpentine.
Body Color
BrownRedWhiteOrangePinkCream
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Scattered, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Mycorrhizal
Substrate
On soil
You can find Bearded milkcap by these plants
Paper birch, Pines, Spruces
Occurence Habitats
Deciduous Woodland
Species Status
Common all over temperate Europe
Endangered Species
No

Scientific Classification of Bearded milkcap

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Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Russulales
Family
Russulaceae
Genus
Milk-caps
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Toxicity and Edibility of Bearded milkcap

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Is Bearded milkcap Toxic?

The bearded milkcap mushroom thrives in damp, periodically appearing woodlands. Its unique shaggy cap serves as a key identifier, distinguishing it from edible species. Ingesting this fungus can trigger various health problems, including digestive upset, vision impairment, difficulties with movement, and potential damage to internal organs. Given its extensive range of harmful effects, it is imperative to steer clear of this mushroom.

Toxins type
Terpenoid
Type of poisoning
Gastrointestinal
Toxic Severity
Moderate toxicity
Incubation Period
0.5-4 hours
Poisoning Symptoms
Common symptoms include gastrointestinal distress, characterized by nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, poisoning can lead to issues beyond the digestive system, such as vision problems, movement disorders like tremors or ataxia, and potential damage to vital organs like the liver and kidneys.