The size of this mushroom can range from 5 to 20 cm in diameter. It usually has a very short stalk. Spore powder is cream-colored with pink tinge. Flesh produces white, very astringent milk when broken. This fungus needs much moisture to grow and is most abundant in spruce forests and under birches from July to November. It is very common in Latvia. Here and elsewhere in Eastern Europe this mushroom is considered edible. It is very tasty when pickled in vinegar or salted in spices but one must boil them for 45 minutes and then discard water!

Latvijā un Austrumeiropā cūcene tiek uzskatīta par labu ēdamu sēni, kas jānovāra 25 minūtes sālītā ūdenī, kurš pēc tam jānolej, un tad jāmērcē divas diennaktis. Pēc novārīšanas šo sēni var izmantot sālītā, skābētā vai marinētā veidā.