Lactarius musteus, also known as the Pine Milkcap, is a distinctive mushroom found primarily in coniferous forests, under pine trees. Recognized for its smooth, slightly sticky cap that ranges in colour from pale ochre to a rich, reddish-brown. The gills of the Pine Milkcap produce a milky latex when damaged, a characteristic feature of the Lactarius genus. Lactarius musteus forms mycorrhiza with pine trees. Its primary habitat is older, nutrient-poor, and dry pine forests with long-standing tree continuity, such as pine heaths and sandy pine forests with a thin humus layer and sparse undergrowth of reindeer lichens, low mosses, and berry shrubs. The mushroom is quite rare and found mainly in northern Europe.

Cap initially flattened with a depressed center. It is sticky when young, later becoming almost dry. The edge remains rolled in for a long time. The colour ranges from yellowish-white to pale ochre and sometimes has a faint pinkish tint. The flesh is white to pale yellow and firm. Gills dense, slightly decurrent, white to yellowish-white with a very faint pinkish hue. Stem cylindrical, often hollow, and usually curved at the base. It shares the same colour as the gills and often has a greyish-yellow ring zone near the top, just below the gills. When young, the stem is sticky. Older mushrooms develop light brown spots and often exhibit pits on the stem.

Microscopic Features: Spores are 8-9 x 6.5-7 μm, elliptical to nearly rounded.