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False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), whole fruiting body
Lucian Clanet · CC BY 4.0
Inedible

False saffron milkcap

Lactarius deterrimus · Russulaceae

Lactarius deterrimus is an orange-capped milkcap of spruce and pine woods that oozes orange milk when broken.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team5 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyRussulaceae
SeasonAug–Nov, Jan
Spore printPale pinkish buff
Cap width4–10 cm
Stem length3–7 cm
Records in Turkey1 records
CultivationWild only
StatusInedible

Lactarius deterrimus is an orange-capped milkcap of spruce and pine woods that oozes orange milk when broken. It is a close relative of the saffron milk cap (L. deliciosus), but it turns green faster and more extensively, lacks pits on the stem and tastes bitterish. Some sources list it as edible, yet its quality is poor and the saffron milk cap group is easily confused with poisonous milkcaps, so our advice is not to eat it.

Also called: false saffron milk cap, orange milkcap Turkish: Lactarius deterrimus, melki

False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

False saffron milkcap, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: Pale pinkish buff Faintly fruity; taste bitterish.

False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), cap seen from above
Cap4–10 cm, convex becoming centrally depressed; orange to carrot-orange with faint zoning, developing extensive green stains with age and handling; sticky when wet.
False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), gills under the cap, seen from below
GillsCrowded orange gills, slightly decurrent; bruising wine-red, then green.
False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), stem and stem base
Stem3–7 cm, orange and smooth, without the darker pits of the saffron milk cap, often with a paler band at the top; becoming hollow.

When and where

Aug–Nov, Jan

  1. Janin season
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Augin season
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Dec

Lactarius deterrimus fruits from August to November in Europe. Our single Turkish map record is from Muğla in January; in the mild Mediterranean winter the season can run late.

Type Inedible

Months seen JanuaryAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember

Colour OrangeGreen

Regions Aegean RegionMuğla

Where do false saffron milkcaps grow?

Mainly under spruce (Picea) on acidic soil, forming mycorrhizae with the tree; it also follows planted spruce. The Turkish records come from pine woodland.

Where is false saffron milkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 1 Turkish record: Muğla, January. iNaturalist lists 7 research-grade observations from Turkey, under the Turkish name Melki. It has also been published from Burdur province (Solak et al., 2013, Mantar Dergisi). In Turkey the names kanlıca, çıntar and melki are shared by this species and L. deliciosus.

Which months

  1. Jan1
  2. Feb0
  3. Mar0
  4. Apr0
  5. May0
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct0
  11. Nov0
  12. Dec0

1 provinces, 1 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest false saffron milkcap observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

False saffron milkcap can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from False saffron milkcap.

False saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus), whole fruiting body
This species False saffron milkcap
Saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not False saffron milkcap

Saffron milk cap Lactarius deliciosus

The saffron milk cap grows under pine, has darker orange pits on the stem, and its orange milk does not change colour. In L. deterrimus the milk turns wine-red within minutes and the stem is smooth.

Bloody milk cap (Lactarius sanguifluus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not False saffron milkcap

Bloody milk cap Lactarius sanguifluus

The bloody milk cap has milk that is blood-red to purple from the start, and its gills are pinkish to purplish.

Woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus) Poisonous

not False saffron milkcap

Woolly milkcap Lactarius torminosus

The woolly milkcap is pinker, has a distinctly woolly cap margin, grows with birch and has white milk; it does not stain green.

Bearded milkcap (Lactarius pubescens) Poisonous

not False saffron milkcap

Bearded milkcap Lactarius pubescens

Pale pinkish cream with a hairy margin, found under birch; its milk is white and very acrid. No orange milk, no green staining.

Fiery milkcap (Lactarius pyrogalus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not False saffron milkcap

Fiery milkcap Lactarius pyrogalus

The fiery milkcap is greyish brown, grows under hazel and hornbeam, and has burning-hot white milk.

Salmon milkcap (Lactarius salmonicolor), whole fruiting body Inedible

not False saffron milkcap

Salmon milkcap Lactarius salmonicolor

The salmon milkcap grows only under fir, has a salmon-orange cap and hardly ever stains green.

What it contains

Its culinary value is lower than the saffron milk cap's: the flesh is quickly maggoty and bitterish. The epithet deterrimus means 'the worst', a nod to this poor quality.

General information, not a health claim.

Some sources list Lactarius deterrimus as edible, but it is bitterish and of poor quality; the saffron milk cap group is often confused with poisonous milkcaps, and in Turkey such mix-ups have caused poisonings. Our advice is not to eat it. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control and keep any leftover mushroom.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lactarius deterrimus edible?

Our advice is not to eat it. Some sources list it as edible, but it is bitterish and poor, and it can be confused with poisonous milkcaps.

How does it differ from the saffron milk cap?

Its milk turns wine-red within minutes, the stem has no pits and it greens faster. The saffron milk cap's milk stays orange and its stem is pitted.

Is it poisonous?

It is not considered poisonous. The real risk is confusing it with white-milked, acrid poisonous Lactarius species.

Why does it turn green?

It is a trait of the saffron milk cap group: handled, cut or ageing spots turn green. In this species the greening is especially quick and extensive.

Which trees does it grow under?

Mainly under spruce; the Turkish records come from pine woodland.

When does it appear?

From August to November in Europe; our Turkish map record is from January.

What does melki mean?

Melki is the Turkish name iNaturalist gives this species; locally it is also used for the saffron milk cap (L. deliciosus).

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data holds 1 record from Muğla, and it has been published from Burdur. iNaturalist has 7 research-grade observations.

When is false saffron milkcap season in Turkey?

In our calendar, false saffron milkcap season runs Aug–Nov, Jan. Lactarius deterrimus fruits from August to November in Europe. Our single Turkish map record is from Muğla in January; in the mild Mediterranean winter the season can run late.

Where do false saffron milkcaps grow?

Mainly under spruce (Picea) on acidic soil, forming mycorrhizae with the tree; it also follows planted spruce. The Turkish records come from pine woodland.

Where are false saffron milkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 1 Turkish record: Muğla, January. iNaturalist lists 7 research-grade observations from Turkey, under the Turkish name Melki. It has also been published from Burdur province (Solak et al., 2013, Mantar Dergisi). In Turkey the names kanlıca, çıntar and melki are shared by this species and L. deliciosus.

What can the false saffron milkcap be confused with?

The false saffron milkcap can be confused with saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus, edible species), bloody milk cap (Lactarius sanguifluus, edible species), woolly milkcap (Lactarius torminosus, poisonous), bearded milkcap (Lactarius pubescens, poisonous), fiery milkcap (Lactarius pyrogalus, inedible) and salmon milkcap (Lactarius salmonicolor, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the false saffron milkcap called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the false saffron milkcap (Lactarius deterrimus) is called Lactarius deterrimus; other local names include melki.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Solak, Allı, Işıloğlu, Güngör ve Kalmış (2013), Mantar Dergisi 4(2): Burdur İlinin Makrofungusları (Macrofungi of Burdur Province) dergipark.org.tr
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Lactarius deterrimus en.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Lactarius deterrimus, False Saffron Milkcap first-nature.com
All sources (5)
  1. iNaturalist: Lactarius deterrimus (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  2. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (8)