Field notes
Spruce milkcap
Lactarius deterrimus
An orange neighbour of the spruce trees.
Names to know
CZRyzec smrkový
ENSpruce milkcap
DEFichtenreizker
Typical seasonJuly – October
Where to look
Associated with spruce, especially damp moss and grassy woodland edges.
What to notice
Orange cap and gills, often with green patches. Orange-red milk darkens reddish on drying.
Look closer: similar mushrooms
Other milkcaps need careful comparison. Orange colour or milky liquid alone is not an identification; some milkcaps cause illness.
Read the expert species account Czech Mycological Society · CzechSources checked 27 September 2026