Lactarius is a diverse group of mushrooms that exude a milky or latex-like substance when the mushroom’s flesh is broken or cut. Some characteristics that are useful for identification include:
Taste – Species differ in taste with the chew-and-spit test. Some are mild while others are spicy or bitter
Milk Coloration – The ‘milk’ that exudes from broken tissue can be a range of colors, and even change colors with exposure to air. Both of these characteristics can be helpful for identification
Some of the most popular species of Lactarius are candy caps which is a group of species that smell like maple syrup when dried.