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Ugly milk-cap

Lactarius turpis

A species of Milk-caps

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it is up to the mushroom hunter to decide whether or not the ugly milk-cap (Lactarius turpis) earns its name. The species has an olive-colored cap that has a strong sheen to it when wet. Like other milk-caps, it "bleeds" a milky white latex when cut or damaged. The species is native to temperate and sub-arctic regions of Europe and Asia.

Cap Diameter:

6 - 19 cm

Odor:

Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.

General Info About Ugly milk-cap

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Attributes of Ugly milk-cap

Cap Diameter

6 - 19 cm

Height

4 - 9 cm

Cap

Cap 8 - 20 cm across; funnel-shaped; olive brown, yellow-green, darkens to blackish; involute margin

Cap Shape

Convex, Depressed, Central Bump

Cap Surfaces

Slimy or slightly sticky

Gills

Decurrent; crowded; dirty white

Gill Attachment

Attached

Stem

Stem 7 cm long, 3 cm thick; olive brown, yellow-green, darkens to blackish; with shallow pits

Stem Shapes

Cylindrical

Stem Surfaces

Smooth to slightly fibrous

Stem Cross Sections

Hollow or cottony hollow

Flesh

Dirty white, tends to turn brown

Ring

Ringless

Spore Print Color

Creamy white

Odor

Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.

Flesh Bruises

The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.

Flesh exude liquid when injured

Yes

Growth Form

Gregarious

Nutrient Gathering

Mycorrhizal

Substrate

On soil

You can find Ugly milk-cap by these plants:

Spruces, Pines

Occurence Habitats

Deciduous Woodland

Species Status

Fairly common

Endangered Species

How to Identify Ugly milk-cap

Fruiting Body Cap Flesh

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Habitat of Ugly milk-cap

The ugly milk-cap can be found in wet woodlands. It is always found near the roots of a birch tree, where it exists in a symbiotic relationship in which the two species feed each other essential nutrients.

Scientific Classification of Ugly milk-cap

Phylum

Club fungi

Class

Mushroom-forming fungi

Order

Russulales

Family

Russulaceae

Genus

Milk-caps

Toxicity and Edibility of Ugly milk-cap

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Is Ugly milk-cap Toxic?

Ugly milk-cap may contain dangerous toxins. It's best to stay away from this mushroom.

Similar Species to Ugly milk-cap

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Tips for Finding Ugly milk-cap

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What are the Ideal Soil Conditions for Ugly milk-cap

Moist, well-drained, and fertile.

What are Some Tips for Finding Ugly milk-cap

Search under birch trees in damp woodland environments, as ugly milk-cap has an affinity for these areas.
Inspect areas with well-drained, fertile soil that retains moisture without waterlogging.
Explore during periods of high humidity; misty conditions might be ideal to find ugly milk-cap.
Look for ugly milk-cap's distinctive features: olive-brown cap with zoned bands and a fruity smell.
Gently move aside leaf litter and debris under birch trees to spot the characteristic gills and stem of ugly milk-cap.

How to Clean and Preserve Ugly milk-cap

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Common Questions People Also Ask

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Is ugly milk-cap dangerous?

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