Fleecy Milkcap

Lactarius vellereus

Coniferous (especially old pine forests), less often deciduous forests. Autumn, summer (less often).

The Fleecy Milkcap is very similar to the Peppery Milkcap, only its fruiting bodies are more robust, fleshier, with a cream tinge. Mushroom pickers probably do not distinguish these species and collect them as one - the Peppery Milkcap. In some localities, for example in Suvalkija, these mushrooms are quite popular. Valuable, edible. To reduce the bitterness they must be soaked for several hours in lightly salted water or boiled for 20—30 min, and the water poured away. Characteristic features: gills thicker, more distant, yellowish, and the milk is white and turns yellow on reacting with air, but does not turn greenish as in the Peppery Milkcap. Grows singly or in small groups in coniferous and mixed forests, rarely in deciduous ones.