Lactarius helvus    (Fr.:Fr.) Fr. 

common name(s) : Fenugreek Milkcap, Blond Milk Cap 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Incertae sedis/Russulales/Russulaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Agaricomycetideae/Russulales/Russulaceae  

synonyms: Lactarius aquifluus 

edibility : poisonous

photo gallery of Lactarius helvus
photo gallery of Lactarius helvus potential confusions with Lactarius helvus toxicity of Lactarius helvus genus Lactarius  

The cap is reddish yellow to ochre grey. The cap surface is without concentric bands, not viscid nor sticky.

The stem is ochre to cinnamon, without ring.

The flesh is whitish to pale ochre or pinkish, turning slightly red when exposed to air (according to some authors); its taste is mild (liquorice); the odour is of celery, stock cubes or curry (when dry); its texture is grainy (breaking like a chalk stick), exuding when cut a watery and unchanging milk.

The gills are adnate to decurrent, crowded . The spore print is white. This species is mycorrhizal. It grows in damp coniferous woods, peatlands, or amongst sphagnum, on a rather very acid soil, with fir, Douglas pine, birch.

The fruiting period takes place from July to November.
Dimensions: width of cap approximately 9 cm (between 2 and 15 cm)
  height of stem approximately 8 cm (between 2 and 12 cm)
  thickness of stem (at largest section) approximately 15 mm (between 5 and 30 mm)

Chemical tests : none.

Distinctive features : grey-brown to ochre-orange cap; distinctive odour (celery or curry in fresh adults, chicory when dried); watery milk, unchanging, scarse

Lactarius helvus is quite rare and localised in the forest of Rambouillet, and is occasional, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Lactarius helvus in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Lactarius helvus in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18