Lactarius rufulus
Bull. Torrey bot. Club 34: 346. 1907.
Common Name: southern candy cap
For description see Hesler & Smith.
Scattered to gregarious or sub-cespitose in duff under coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia); fruiting in fall, winter, and early spring in coastal forests or dry inland forests. Common south of the San Francisco Bay area, uncommon north.
Edible and good. Similar to Lactarius rubidus, but a bit less flavorful.
Lactarius rufulus can be distinguished by its brick red to reddish orange cap, stout stature, a solid stipe with lots of spiky orange hairs around the base, and association with live oak. The similar Lactarius rubidus can be distinguished by its brownish orange cap, stipe that is hollow in age. Both have species have watery, whey-like latex. Lactarius rufus is similar in overall size and coloration, but it has a strong acrid taste and grows with pines and spruce.
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