Lactarius flavidus
Local name: Lactaire jaunâtre
Lactarius flavidus is a distinctive mycorrhizal mushroom species characterized by its yellowish cap and white latex that exudes when the fruiting body is damaged. This fungus forms essential symbiotic relationships with tree roots, facilitating nutrient exchange and supporting forest ecosystem health through its extensive underground mycelial networks.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Russulales
Family
Russulaceae
Genus
Lactarius
Lactarius flavidus belongs to the family Russulaceae, order Russulales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Lactarius flavidus is a distinctive mycorrhizal mushroom species characterized by its yellowish cap and white latex that exudes when the fruiting body is damaged. This fungus forms essential symbiotic relationships with tree roots, facilitating nutrient exchange and supporting forest ecosystem health through its extensive underground mycelial networks.
Lactarius flavidus faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation and forest fragmentation in its limited range. The species' specialized ecological requirements as a mycorrhizal fungus make it particularly vulnerable to changes in forest composition and soil chemistry. Climate change further threatens its survival by altering the delicate environmental conditions necessary for fruiting body formation.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Lactarius flavidus occurs in mature deciduous and mixed forests, particularly in association with oak, beech, and other hardwood trees where it forms mycorrhizal partnerships. The species requires well-established forest soils with stable moisture levels and minimal disturbance to maintain its complex underground fungal networks.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Lactarius flavidus faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation and forest fragmentation in its limited range. The species' specialized ecological requirements as a mycorrhizal fungus make it particularly vulnerable to changes in forest composition and soil chemistry. Climate change further threatens its survival by altering the delicate environmental conditions necessary for fruiting body formation.
Climate change impacts on forest ecosystems
Forest fragmentation
Habitat loss and deforestation
Host tree species decline
Soil chemistry alterations
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lactarius flavidus (Lactarius flavidus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lactaire-jaunatre