Lactarius picinus
inedible
It tastes acrid and has cream-coloured gills.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The sooty milkcap has a velvety blackish-brown cap, a long blackish-brown stem and strikingly white gills. Its white milk turns pink.
SeasonAugust to October
Spore printochre
FamilyRussulaceae
- Cap. The cap is 3 to 8 cm wide, velvety blackish brown, often with a pointed bump, and wrinkled.
- Underside. The gills are white, in contrast to the dark cap.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is long, blackish brown, and grooved at the tip. There is no ring or volva.
- Smell and taste. It tastes mild.
- Flesh and colour change. The milk is white and turns pink.
Lookalikes
Vulnerable in Germany (Red List category 3); better to leave it standing.
Habitat & Season
Acidic, moss-rich soils in mountain conifer woods. Mainly montane elevations.
Host trees
Spruce.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Only eat mushrooms you have identified with certainty, and always cook them thoroughly.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
No species-specific rule known.
Red List Germany: Vulnerable (category 3)
In the kitchen
Fried. Cook thoroughly.
Rarely done. Threatened species; please spare it.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free specimens that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and prepare them the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Sooty milkcap: is it edible?
Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Vulnerable in Germany (Red List category 3); better to leave it standing.
Sooty milkcap: when and where does it grow?
In central Europe the season runs from August to October. Tree partners and habitat: Spruce. Soil: Acidic, moss-rich soils in mountain conifer woods. Elevation: Mainly montane elevations.
Sooty milkcap: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Lactarius picinus (inedible): It tastes acrid and has cream-coloured gills.
Related species
- Delicious milk cap Lactarius deliciosus
- False saffron milkcap Lactarius deterrimus
- Salmon milkcap Lactarius salmonicolor
- Fleecy milk-cap Lactarius vellereus
- Curry milkcap Lactarius camphoratus
- Charcoal burner Russula cyanoxantha
Sources
- Schwarzkopf-Milchling (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Lactarius lignyotus Fr.
- Index Fungorum Record 165811
- Rote-Liste-Zentrum: Großpilze Deutschlands (Dämmrich et al. 2016)
- ÖMG: Pilzschutzbestimmungen in Österreich (Stand 29.01.2021)
- RIS: Forstgesetz 1975 § 174
- DGfM: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
Photo credits
- Photo: Игорь Лебединский · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Lactarius picinus: Photo: Karelj · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.