Key Identification Features
- Tan to buff wavy cap (4–12 cm) with inrolled margin when young
- white to cream gills
- stem same color as cap
- exudes white milk (latex) when gills are broken that quickly stains yellow — this yellow-staining milk is the key ID feature. Grows under live oak and madrone along CA coast. Mild to slightly acrid taste.
Preparation Notes
Edible when well cooked. Traditionally eaten by Indigenous peoples of California. Sauté thoroughly; bitter taste diminishes with cooking. Best combined with other mushrooms in sauces.
Regions Found
Region data not available
Look-Alikes
No documented look-alikes on record.
Safety disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Never eat a wild mushroom based solely on online information. Always verify identification using multiple reliable field guides and, when possible, consult an experienced forager or mycologist. When in doubt, don't eat it. Spore & Scout accepts no responsibility for identification errors or adverse reactions.