We are finding these edible members of the Lactarius family in abundance in our oak/beech woods. As they age, their dry, orange-brown convex caps become almost funnel-shaped. The whitish gills are adnate to nearly decurrent,braod and distant. The stipe is the same color as the cap, only paler. Its spore-print as well as the flesh is white. When the gills are cut, a white sticky fluid exudes from the damaged area.

L. hygrophoroides is sometimes confused with the similar-looking Lactarius volemus. The cream gills of the latter, however, are very crowded and stain brown when cut or bruised. All parts of Lactarius volemus, in fact, will stain brown. Also, as Mark DeBellis showed me the other day, the white latex of Lactarius volemus flows more voluminously than that of Lactarius hygrophoroides and discolors from white to brown. Another way to tell the two apart is to smell them. Lactarius hygrophoroides has a mild odor, while that of L. volemus is fishy. Both, nevertheless, are considered good edibles. (Click on next picture to see the differences between the two).

(Please read comments below contributed by Steve regarding the edibility of Lactarius hygrophoroides )!