Cortinarius violaceus - Violet Webcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Picture by kind permission of Jochen Dahlke

Cortinarius violaceus is entirely purple and, at up to 12cm in cap diameter, a very striking species indeed. It grows under broad-leaf trees in summer and autumn. The pictures on this page were taken in July 2009 in Southern Bavaria by Jochen Dahlke, with whose kind permission they are shown here.

Cortinarius violaceus is the type species for its genus.

Identification guide

	Cap At first hemispherical and later expanded with a slight umbo, the caps of this rare species are deep purple when young. Cap diameter varies from 6 to 12cm at maturity.
	Gills The adnate gills are moderately spaced and purple when young. As the spores mature, the gills turn rusty brown and eventually they are stained dark by the spores.
Stem	The stipe is purple and fibrous with a slightly clavate (club-shaped) base. Typically 1 to 2cm in diameter, it can measure as much as 3 or 4cm across the base.
Spore print	Rusty brown.
Odour/taste	Smells slightly of cedarwood; no significant taste.
Habitat	In deciduous woodland in chalk and limestone areas.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Rare.