Cortinarius collinitus - Blue-girdled Webcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Cortinarius collinitus is found in late summer in coniferous forests and, very occasionally, in broad-leaf woodland. This is an inedible fungus and should never be collected because it can be confused with some of the other webcaps that are deadly poisonous.

Identification of webcaps is very difficult, and unfortunately there are many brownish species with macroscopic characteristics similar to this rather nondescript member of the clan.

Identification guide

Cap	Young caps are convex, later almost flattening but usually retaining a broad umbo and a slightly in-rolled margin even when fully developed. The caps vary from mid brown to dark brown, generally with a lighter region near the rim and with faint radial streaks. Very slimy in wet weather, the caps eventually dry to a smooth glossy finish. The diameter ranges from 3 to 10cm at maturity.
Gills	The gills are close and initially white or pale violaceous-grey at first, becoming rusty brown as the spores mature.
Stem	The top of the stipe is white; the central section is irregularly banded with the viscid veil remains and tinged with violet; the lower part is coloured brown. 7 to 20mm in diameter and from 5 to 12cm tall.
Spores	Rusty brown; elipsoid to lemon-shaped or almond-shaped; rough and verrucose, 13 to 16 x 7.5 to 9.5μm.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	In boggy acidic coniferous woodland; rarely under broad-leaf trees.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	A fairly common species in many areas.