Cortinarius anomalus - Variable Webcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

In the generally difficult Cortinarius group of fungi this is one of the most variable and difficult to identify from macroscopic characters alone. Cap colour in particular is very variable and changes as the fruitbody matures.

Like all fungi in the Cortinarius genus, this mushroom should not be eaten; it could easily be confused with some of the webcaps that contain orellanine and are known to be deadly poisonous.

Look out for this gregarious webcap in mixed woodland containing birches or pines.

Identification guide

	Cap The cap is at first convex with a web-like cortina covering the gills, becoming bell-shaped and eventually flattening or even turning up irregularly at the edges;often retaining a slight central umbo; cap surface is dry with fine radial fibres, initially ochraceous brown in the centre of the cap and paler and often violaceous towards the margin, but progressively turning reddish brown or mid brown from the centre. Cap diameter at maturity varies from 2.5 to 7cm.
	Gills At first violaceous, turning clay-brown and finally ochraceous-rusty brown as the spores mature. Stem The whitish ochre-tinged stem has a violaceous flush towards the apex and faint yellow bands left by the cortina (the partial veil); 5 to 12mm in diameter, slightly swollen towards its base; between 5 and 9cm long.
Spore print	Rust-brown.
Odour/taste	Odour slight, pleasant. (It is unwise to taste any Cortinarius species, as several of them are deadly poisonous.)
Habitat	In mixed woodland, most often in small groups under birches and pines.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Occasional.