✅ Edibility Note
EDIBLE: Good flavor, similar to L. deliciosus. ORANGE LATEX turning GREEN + SPRUCE host diagnostic. May stain green when cooked - normal. Best young. Cook thoroughly.
Description
False Saffron Milk Cap has orange cap (4-12 cm) with concentric zones, greenish stains. Gills orange, crowded. Stem orange with pits. KEY: ORANGE LATEX turning GREEN quickly - faster than L. delicious. Like L. deliciosus but under SPRUCE not pine. Flesh pale. Spore print cream.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with SPRUCE (Picea) in Europe and North America. Grows under spruce trees in coniferous forests. Prefers acidic soil.
Region: Europe (native), Introduced North America, Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Rocky Mountains
Seasonality
Fall (September-November), fruiting after rains.
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Lactarius deliciosus - pine host not spruce
- Other orange Lactarius - check tree host
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