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Lactarius helvus

(Fr.) Fr.

Curry Milkcap

GNRUnranked Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.881134
Element CodeNFRUS000B0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomFungi
PhylumBasidiomycota
ClassBasidiomycetes
OrderRussulales
FamilyRussulaceae
GenusLactarius
Synonyms
Lactarius aquifluusPeck
Other Common Names
Burnt-sugar (EN)
Concept Reference
Phillips, R. 1991. Mushrooms of North America. Little, Brown and Company, Boston. 319 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
In Europe this species is considered as Lactarius helvus, while mushroom guides in North America use Lactarius aquifluus. Species Fungorum (2018) and Arora (1986) consider as L. helvus with L. aquifluus treated in synonymy. Kuo (2011) explains that molecular work is needed to resolve the situation and it would be highly likely to have genetic separation of an North America species.
Ecology & Habitat
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - Mixed
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS5Yes
AlbertaS3Yes
British ColumbiaSUYes
ManitobaSUYes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
New BrunswickSUYes
Island of NewfoundlandSNRYes
SaskatchewanSUYes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
Michigan (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear SwampHuron-Manistee National Forest3,915
New Hampshire (2)
AreaForestAcres
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
References (8)
  1. Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. 959 pp.
  2. Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum. 2018. <i>In</i> Index Fungorum-Species Fungorum (<a href="https://indexfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://indexfungorum.org</a> and <a href="https://speciesfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://speciesfungorum.org</a>) database export on 16 June 2018. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum. 2025. <i>In</i> Index Fungorum-Species Fungorum (<a href="https://indexfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://indexfungorum.org</a> and <a href="https://speciesfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://speciesfungorum.org</a>) database export on 29 September 2025. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  4. Index Fungorum. Online global fungal nomenclator. Index Fungorum Partnership (CABI, CBS, Landcare Research). www.indexfungorum.org (accessed 2012).
  5. Kuo, M. 2011. <i>Lactarius helvus</i>. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: www.mushroomexpert.com/lactarius_helvus.html. Accessed 22 Sept 2012.
  6. MycoBank. 2025. MycoBank database download, export date January 2025. International Mycological Association. [http://www.mycobank.org]
  7. Phillips, R. 1991. Mushrooms of North America. Little, Brown and Company, Boston. 319 pp.
  8. Phillips, R. 2010. Mushrooms and other fungi of North America. Firefly Books. 384 p.