The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Lactescent \Lac*tes"cent\, a. [L. lactescens, p. pr. of lactescere to turn to milk, incho. fr. lactere to be milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactescent.] 1. Having a milky look; becoming milky. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) Producing milk or a milklike juice or fluid, as the milkweed. See Latex. [1913 Webster]