Lactarius hepaticus has a dark brown to reddish-brown wet cap - initially with an enrolled margin - that has a small umbo in a darker depressed center. Its pinkish tan gills are close, relatively narrow and forked in various places. Latex is white and does not change gill color. Spores print is creamy-white. It occurs under hemlock and other conifers. This is in the Russulacae family of the Russulales order.