Lactarius rufus

Lactarius rufus
(Scop.: Fr.) Fr.

Lactarius rufus is one of the most frequent Lactarii of subalpine spruce forests; in this environment it common in mossy areas, often with blueberry shrubs and with other Russulales, such as Russula vinosa and Russula decolorans. More rarely it can be observed also with Scots pine. It is one of many reddish to orange Lactarius species, one of the most difficult groups in the genus. Among them it can be recognized thanks to its habitat, to the matt, rough cap surface, liver coloured, often with a central umbo. The latex is white, usually strongly acrid. For this reason it is not considered an edible species. (m.f.)