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 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.