✅ Edibility Note
CHOICE EDIBLE: Excellent nutty flavor despite fishy odor (disappears when cooked). ABUNDANT WHITE LATEX + FISHY ODOR diagnostic. One of best Lactarius for eating. Best young. Cook thoroughly.
Description
Bradley has orange-brown to reddish-brown cap (5-12 cm), dry, velvety. Gills cream, close, staining brown. Stem similar to cap. KEY: ABUNDANT WHITE LATEX, FISHY ODOR when old. Latex does not change color. Flesh firm, white. Spore print white. The copious latex and fishy smell diagnostic.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with HARDWOODS, especially oak. Grows on ground in mixed and hardwood forests. Common in eastern forests. Scattered or groups.
Region: Eastern United States, Midwest, Southeast, South Central
Seasonality
Summer through fall (July-October), fruiting throughout season.
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Lactifluus corrugis - similar but larger, corrugated cap
- Other Lactifluus - check odor and latex abundance
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