Cortinarius armillatus - Red Banded Webcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

In the generally difficult Cortinarius group of fungi this is one of the easiest to identify, because of the distinctive reddish veil girdles or 'bracelets' on the stems. There are usually between two and four of these girdling marks, which are nearl;y always very bold and easy to spot.

Like other fungi in the Cortinarius genus, although this mushroom is may not be generally reputed to be poisonous it could be confused with some of the reddish webcaps that contain orellanine and are known to be deadly poisonous.

Look out for this lovely webcap in mixed woodland containing birches.

Identification guide

	Cap The cap is at first reddish-brown and globe-shaped with a web-like cortina covering the gills, becoming bell-shaped and then flattening and becoming darker at maturity, but usually retaining a small central umbo; its surface is dry with radial reddish scales, darkest in the centre of the cap and paler towards the margin. Cap diameter at maturity varies from 4 to 12cm.
	Gills At first pale cinnamon, the gills become stained rusty brown as the spores mature. Stem The pale, fibrous stem is 1 to 2.5cm in diameter and very variable in height - from 5cm to 15cm - with a slightly swollen club-shaped base.
Spore print	Rusty reddish-brown.
Odour/taste	Slight smell of radish. (It is unwise to taste any Cortinarius species, as several of them are deadly poisonous.)
Habitat	On acid soil under birch trees and in mixed woodland containing birches.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Frequent.