Lactarius helvus is a member of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales. Fruiting bodies are most often found in Sphagnum moss in coniferous and deciduous forest of Europe. The mushrooms color is pale brown-grey or beige and are funnel-shaped, with colourless watery milk. They have a distinctive smell which is to fenugreek, celery, liquorice, its even been compared to Maggi instant. They are found in wet places, often growing in Sphagnum, in late summer and autumn. The species is found across Europe and Asia.
These mushrooms are toxic and symptoms occur within thirty minutes of consumption, with nausea and vomiting accompanied by vertigo and chills. The toxic agents are thought to be sesquiterpenes. In October 1949, 418 people were poisoned near Leipzig in eastern Germany. The toxins are destroyed by thorough boiling, and L. helvus is used in small quantities as a spice after drying.
