Lactarius lignyotus, also known as Velvet milkcap, is a dark brown, velvety Lactarius that grows under conifers and features fairly well-spaced gills, a long stem that is nearly as dark as the cap. It exudes white milk that usually stains the flesh and the gills pinkish.

Cap mid-to dark brown with a velvety surface. As young with an inrolled margin, becoming flat or shallowly depressed, often with a central depression. Gills very slightly decurrent, close or nearly distant; white or whitish, remaining pale until old age when pinkish to orangish hues often result from drying milk and spore maturation. Stem pale brown to almost white with a white base. More or less equal. The mushroom has no ring.

Similar species Lactarius fuliginosus has a light brown stem, and the hat color is dark brown.

Lactarius lignyotus on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.