Local name: Om Shamong

Edibility: Edible

Habitat: Terrestrial among mosses and scattered to solitary.

Description: Cap: 5-13 cm, at first convex, with an enrolled margin then it becomes flat with a central depression as it matures, the margin is even, smooth or slightly wrinkled, brownish orange, or sometimes lighter, typically without distinct zones of colours but often darker towards the centre. Hymenophore: The gills are attached to the stem or running slightly down, close, creamy white then discolouring brown when injured, often forking near the margin. Stem: 6-12 cm tall, up to 2 cm wide, con-colours with the cap or paler, equal or tapering to base, smooth, solid or hollowing somewhat. Flesh: White, eventually staining brown when cut. Milk: White, sometimes becoming brownish on exposure to air, but always staining tissues brown. Spore Print: White.

Comments: Lactarius volemusis an attractive mushroom, fairly easy to recognize by its brownish orange colourations, its white milk which stains paper, your hands, and everything in sight brown and its tendency to develop a fishy odour. Its cap is smooth or only slightly wrinkled, separating it from the similar Lactarius corrugis (which lacks the fishy odour). Lactarius hygrophoroides is similar in appearance, but has distant gills and non-staining milk.