Cortinarius rubellus - Deadly Webcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Cortinarius rubellus (syn. Cortinarius speciosissimus) is a fairly rare but deadly poisonous mushroom. It is found from late summer to early winter in coniferous woodland.

Despite a very different shape, the orange cap of this attractive mushroom has resulted in it being mistaken for Cantharelus cibarius, the highly prized edible Chanterelle mushroom - with serious and in some cases fatal consequences. This mushroom contains the toxin orellanine, which if eaten destroys the kidneys and liver.

The Deadly Webcap is reputedly the poisonous mushroom collected in mistake for chanterelles by Nicholas Evans, famous author of (among other works) 'The Horse Whisperer' - subsequently made into a highly acclaimed film by Robert Redford -and 'The Loop.' Mr Evans and three members of his family suffered serious kidney damage and were hospitalised in Scotland.

The initial symptoms of orellanine poisoning are usually delayed by two or three days, after which flu-like symptoms, headache and vomiting occur. Renal (kidney) failure follows and if not treated can result in death. Dialysis and other kidney and liver treatment if received quickly eniough can usually save the lives of people who eat these dangerous Cortinarius mushrooms - as it did in the case of Nicholas Evans - but full recovery is a long process.

Several other fungi from the Cortinarius genus are now known to contain the same toxin, and so most experts advise that no webcap fungi should ever be eaten.

Identification guide

	Cap The tawny-brown to orange cap is at first convex, flattening at maturity but retaining a slight umbo; its surface is dry and slightly scaly. Cap diameter is typically 4 to 8cm when fully expanded, and the margin is often slightly rolled down even in fully mature specimens.
	Gills The gills, which are covered by a cortina (a cobweb-like veil) in young specimens, are pale yellowish at first, becoming rusty brown as the spores mature.
Stem	Often slightly bowed rather than straight, the stem is usually slightly paler than the cap and sometimes retains fibres from the cortina, mottled with red; it is fibrous and has a curved base that tapers in slightly towards the base. Stems are typically 7 to 15mm in diameter and 5 to 10 cm tall.
Spore print	Rusty reddish-brown.
Odour/taste	Faint smell of raddish. DO NOT TASTE EVEN A SMALL PIECE OF THIS MUSHROOM: it is deadly poisonous and even a small amount can causeserious or even fatal kidney and liver damage.
Habitat	Under conifer trees - spruce in particular - on damp acid soil.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Rarely found in the south of England and Wales but becoming increasingly more common as you go further north, this mushroom is very common in Scandinavia.