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Bloody milk cap (Lactarius sanguifluus)
Lucian Clanet · CC BY 4.0
Edible species

Bloody milk cap

Lactarius sanguifluus · Russulaceae

The bloody milk cap is a pine-wood Lactarius from the same section as the saffron milk cap, with a pinkish-orange cap and blood-red to purple milk that oozes when it is broken.

FamilyRussulaceae
SeasonSep–Dec
Spore printBuff
Cap width4–7.5 cm
Records in Turkey3 records
CultivationWild only
StatusEdible species

The bloody milk cap is a pine-wood Lactarius from the same section as the saffron milk cap, with a pinkish-orange cap and blood-red to purple milk that oozes when it is broken. It is a choice edible sold in rural markets, but specimens from roadsides can accumulate heavy metals.

Turkish: Kızıl sütlü çıntar

Bloody milk cap

How to recognise it

Bloody milk cap, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: Buff Blood-red to purple milk when broken.

Cap — Bloody milk cap
Cap4–7.5 cm, convex with a central dip; pinkish buff to orange, patched grey-green, sticky.
Gills — Bloody milk cap
GillsPinkish to purplish, adnate to slightly decurrent.
Stem — Bloody milk cap
StemShort; oozes red milk when broken.

When and where

Sep–Dec

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

The bloody milk cap fruits from September to November in southern Europe, into December further south; in Turkey, GBIF records fall in November–December.

Where do bloody milk caps grow?

The bloody milk cap grows under pines on calcareous soil (ectomycorrhizal) and is found in Europe, Mediterranean North Africa and Asia.

In Turkey

In Turkey, records of the bloody milk cap come from Istanbul; a Turkish study measured heavy-metal levels in specimens collected from roadsides and lawns.

  • İstanbul3

3 observations on our map (GBIF, iNaturalist). Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest bloody milk cap observations

See on the map

In its habitat — Bloody milk cap
In its habitat
In its habitat — Bloody milk cap
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Bloody milk cap
Bloody milk cap
Saffron milk cap
Saffron milk cap
Edible species

Saffron milk cap Lactarius deliciosus

Orange milk and a carrot-orange cap.

Poisonous

Woolly milkcap Lactarius torminosus

Woolly cap margin, white milk, under birch.

In the kitchen

Cooking with bloody milk caps

On the blog

In the wildWhen is saffron milk cap season in Turkey? Months, rain and regions5 min read

Storing bloody milk caps

Fresh · fridge3–7 daysKeep fresh bloody milk caps unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge; delicate species are at the short end. Source
FrozenA few monthsFreeze bloody milk caps cooked, not raw: sauté and cool them first. Source
DriedA few months – 1 yearKeep dried bloody milk caps in an airtight jar in a cool, dry, dark place. Source

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

Do not pick it near busy roads or on polluted soil; it accumulates heavy metals.

Grow it, buy it

Bloody milk cap price list

Bloody milk cap price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
Fresh bloody milk capsIn preparation · notify me—
Dried bloody milk capsIn preparation · notify me—

Our prices for bloody milk caps are published when the product is ready; for now we take waiting-list sign-ups. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Grow kits →

Frequently asked questions

Are bloody milk caps edible?

Yes, the bloody milk cap is an edible species. Eat a wild one only after an expert has identified it with certainty: it can be confused with woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus). Do not pick it near busy roads or on polluted soil; it accumulates heavy metals.

When is bloody milk cap season in Turkey?

In our calendar, bloody milk cap season runs Sep–Dec. The bloody milk cap fruits from September to November in southern Europe, into December further south; in Turkey, GBIF records fall in November–December.

Where do bloody milk caps grow?

The bloody milk cap grows under pines on calcareous soil (ectomycorrhizal) and is found in Europe, Mediterranean North Africa and Asia.

Where are bloody milk caps found in Turkey?

In Turkey, records of the bloody milk cap come from Istanbul; a Turkish study measured heavy-metal levels in specimens collected from roadsides and lawns.

What can the bloody milk cap be confused with?

The bloody milk cap can be confused with saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus, edible species) and woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus, poisonous). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the bloody milk cap called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the bloody milk cap (Lactarius sanguifluus) is called Kızıl sütlü çıntar.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources (2)
Photo credits (10)