Cap |
Young caps are convex, later flattening as
they expand but invariably retaining an in-rolled margin even when fully
developed. The cap diameter varies from 6 to 20 cm at maturity.
At first a beautiful blue-mauve and particularly fibrilose at the
margin, the cap turns ochre-brown, or sometimes rufous-brown, from the
centre and becomes more smooth and shiny with age. In dry weather the
margin wrinkles, whereas in wetter conditions it tends to remain more
regularly circular. |
Gills |
The notched gills are close and initially
white or pale grey.
As the spores mature, the gills turn rusty brown, but they usually
retain a pale edge until the fruit body begins decaying. |
Stipe |
The stipe is white at first and clavate
(club-shaped), broadest at the base, becoming more parallel-sided as the
cap expands. It is covered with long flaky scales below a fleeting ring
formed as the cortina parts.
Once the cap is fully developed, the stem discolours in patches as
rust-coloured spores fall from the gills. |
Spore print |
Rusty brown. |
Odour/taste |
Slightly earthy. |
Habitat |
In deciduous woodland in chalk and limestone
areas. |
Season |
September and October. |
Occurrence |
Infrequent in warm locations; rare
elsewhere. |
Similar species |
- Cortinarius violaceus has a dark violet cap, gills and
stem.
|
