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Species map · Lactarius deliciosus

Saffron milk cap map of Turkey: where and when it grows

Our map holds 44 verified records of the saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus) from 15 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Bolu, Manisa and Samsun; records peak in January, October and December.

records
44
provinces
15
regions
6
latest record
Oct 2026

How to identify the saffron milk cap

Points are GBIF and iNaturalist records, each linking to its own record. Locations of protected species are rounded. Open on the main map →

Records by province

  • Black Sea 15
  • Marmara 15
  • Aegean 9
  • Mediterranean 2
  • Central Anatolia 2
  • East and Southeast 1

Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Which months?

Records by month
Jan13FebMarAprMay1Jun2Jul4Aug1Sep1Oct9Nov5Dec8

This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.

Poisonous look-alikes of the saffron milk cap

Records by region: Black Sea 15; Marmara 15; Aegean 9; Mediterranean 2; Central Anatolia 2; Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia 1. Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Manisa, Samsun, Bursa, Muğla, Burdur and Ankara.

Records peak in January, October and December; about 34% of dated records fall in September–November and 2% in March–May.

The saffron milk cap is picked from August to early October in the northern hemisphere; in Turkey, GBIF records cluster between October and January, and the season shifts with the rains.

The saffron milk cap grows under conifers, especially pines, on acidic soil, where it forms a mycorrhizal partnership with the trees.

Woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus, poisonous): Pinker, with a woolly cap margin, always near birch; white milk. Causes stomach upsets and should be treated as poisonous.

False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus, edible): Smooth stem and pinkish-orange milk; also picked as kanlıca in Turkey.

Bleeding milk cap (Lactarius rubrilacteus, edible): Exudes dark red milk and stains blue.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the saffron milk cap grow in Turkey?

Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Manisa, Samsun and Bursa.

When does the saffron milk cap fruit in Turkey?

Records peak in January, October and December.

Which province has the most saffron milk cap records?

İstanbul, followed by Bolu, Manisa and Samsun. The order also reflects where observers are active.

What habitat does the saffron milk cap prefer?

The saffron milk cap grows under conifers, especially pines, on acidic soil, where it forms a mycorrhizal partnership with the trees.

Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?

A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.

How current is this map?

Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.

What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?

Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.

Sources

  1. 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  2. 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  3. GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Lactarius deliciosus en.wikipedia.org
  2. Vikipedi (TR): Lactarius deliciosus tr.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Lactarius deliciosus first-nature.com

Data sources and licences

Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".

An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction