Habitat: In the PNW, L. plumbeus occurs frequently under planted birch trees and often persists into late fall as dry black specimens. In Europe, it is reported from birch and spruce forests and also is known as L. necator (Bulliard: Fries) P. Karsten and L. turpis (Weinmann) Fries.
Conservation Status: Not of concern
In PNW conifer forests, we have a related species, L. olivaceo-umbrinus. It is very similar in appearance and coloration to L. plumbeus but with somewhat stronger olive-brown cap and stipe and dark spots on the stipe. It is most frequent in the coastal Sitka spruce forests, but also extends into interior montane forests. It is rarely abundant, most often being found as single small fruitbodies.
- var. betulae – bearded milk-cap, downy milk-cap, woolly milk-cap
- var. pubescens – downy milk-cap, woolly milk-cap, bearded milkcap
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Lactarius pubescens in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
CalPhotos: Lactarius pubescens photos.
