Woolly Milkcap / Bearded Milkcap

Lactarius torminosus

Forests, parks, under birches. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies large. Cap 5—10 (12) cm, grows up to 20 cm across, flattened, depressed, shaggy in places, fibrous, margins rolled downwards, shaggy, yellowish-brownish, pinkish, fading to whitish. Young gills white, quickly becoming pink, when old creamy-brownish, adnate. Stem 3-8x0.5-2 cm, hollow, of uniform thickness, firm, brittle, brownish. Flesh white, later brownish, firm, brittle, crisp, without a particular smell, with a sharp, burning taste; the milk is white and does not change colour. Characteristic features: fruiting bodies yellowish-pink, growing only under birches. Appears in small groups and in groups. A common, good edible mushroom. Eaten salted or pickled. To remove the bitterness, as with other bitter-tasting milkcaps, it is advisable to boil it for 20 min, pour away the water and then prepare various dishes.