congratulations, you've found a 1st grade mushroom.
saffron milks are very tasty! (and can be eaten even without preparation)
remember this spot to harvest them in next season!
as for identification... saffron milk caps are easy to identify when you used to them. they can be confused with the mushroom 'woolly milkcap' (Lactarius torminosus)
this video shows the differencies and key identification features:
ps
There's signs everywhere saying entry is forbidden
...not for the Russians too 😂 😂
I guess we would be more certain as it also grows in pines, I was reading Lactarius torminosus grows in different forest. Now I feel clever as I now understand the milky caps are lactarius ie from milk. I am learning alot!
...which is a super cool thing.
and learning 'de visu' and with the help of more experienced friends or experts (like that man in YT video) is the best way to go! ofc books are a help... but images and academic explanations are not enough!
yes, thats true, Lactarius torminosus prefer birch trees and also can be find in decidious / mixed forests, including pines, while saffron milkcap occur at pine and spruce forests. And in fact, depending on what forest they grow in, these are two different varieties of saffrons: pine or spruce saffron milcap (but still the same specie). Hope that is not too much information / details at once, haha!
Experts do not count the type of forest where they grow as a key identification feature at all.
grows in different forest.
Both of those two species belong to the milk caps, and their 'milk' is very different - saffrons milk gave them their name, and wholly milkcaps have their milk white -- this is the key identification feature.
I did not happen to find saffrons myself yet, only the whoollies. in my area I am happy to have the 'ugly milkcaps' growing, unfortunately they hide pretty well under leaves and quite hard to find,-- until you know the exact place where to look for. I cant boast I am foraging huge amounts of them... but at least enough for making good captures, haha!
🤪😂
I was very happy. It has rained again so I will go looking again next week. I was so happy!!