Lactarius camphoratus (Bull. ex Fr.) Fr. Kampfermilchling, Lactaire camphré, Curry Milkcap. Cap 2.5–5cm across, convex, then with a depression and often with a small umbo, red-brown, bay or dark brick, sometimes with a violet tinge, surface smooth and matt, not sticky, margin slightly inrolled at first, often furrowed. Stem 30–50 x 4–7mm, cylindrical or narrowing downwards coloured as the cap or deeper. Flesh pale rusty brown. Gills decurrent, closely spaced, narrow, pale reddish brown. Milk rather watery but with whitish clouds; taste mild. Smell weakly of bugs when fresh, but a strong curry-like scent develops on drying. Spore print creamy (C). Spores subglobose with ornamentation of warts, mainly isolated but occasionally joined by ridges, 7.5–8.5 x 6.5–7.5µ. Habitat under pine but sometimes also in deciduous woods. Season summer to late autumn. Frequent. Edible – dried and powdered it is used in Germany as a flavouring. (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.) Distribution, America and Europe. |