Lactarius tabidus, also known as the Birch Milkcap, is a small agaric with an orange-brown cap and cinnamon gills that exude white milk. It grows solitarily or in scattered groups on damp, humus-rich soil in mossy areas beneath broad-leaf trees, particularly favouring birch trees.

Cap convex, sometimes with a central umbo, that flattens with age. It varies between orange-brown and a dull chestnut in colour, and the surface is dry and matt. The margin often has tiny lobes and can be crimped or crisped. Gills at first ochraceous-buff, becoming pale cinnamon with a pinkish tinge, adnate or slightly decurrent, narrow and fairly crowded. Stem colour ranges from reddish-brown to brick-coloured and is either roughly equal in width or slightly tapers towards the top. The stem flesh is whitish, and there is no presence of a stem ring. Spore print pale cream with a slight salmon pink tinge.

Microscopic Features: The spores are ellipsoidal in shape, measuring about 7-9 x 6-7μm. They have a transparent appearance and are adorned with numerous pointed warts, reaching a height of up to 1.2μm. These warts are mostly found as isolated structures, although there are a few connecting ridges present as well.

Lactarius tabidus on the www.first-nature.com web site.