North American Cortinarius Collections
An ongoing study
Cortinarius trappei - Ammirati, Liimat. & Niskanen 2014 Description:Pileus: 15-35 mm across, convex, sub-umbonate to umbonate, margin straight to inrolled when young, surface moist to dry, burgandy to red-brown, or dull tan when dry, typically covered with fine, appressed bronze (pale orange-brown) veil remnants. Gills: Close, burgandy to rich wine-red, becoming dark brown in age.... Continue Reading →
An olive-yellow Cortinarius with yellow gills, and obliquely marginate bulb, described from Austria. While there are several bright yellow Cortinarius species that occur in conifer forest, for our PNW region consider also Cortinarius metarius, Cortinarius cupreorufus and Cortinarius picea.
Cortinarius neofurvolaesus is a medium to large red-brown to brown species in subgenus Telamonia. It is a close relative to Cortinarius sordidemaculatus (= Cortinarius furvolaesus) and has a similar brown spots or bruising with age. Neither species shows purple tones. Cortinarius neofurvolaesus appears slightly more slender, has lighter red-brown tones and in my observation a more pale and less bulbous stipe.
Cortinarius sordidemaculatus means "dirty / sordid" "spotted". It is recognized by the fibrilose dark brown cap, medium size, lack of violet tones with dark black-brown spots and bruising.
Cortinarius occidentalisagacitas Liimat., Niskanen, Kytöv. & AmmiratiIndex Fungorum 438: 6 (2020) Description:Pileus: 15-50 mm wide, convex with small, acute umbo in younger speciments, warm orange brown to russet, hygrophanous. Lamellae: Adnexed, pale orange buff, orange brown to warm cinnamon brown. Stipe: 30-60 mm long, 4-10 mm at apex, equal, pale apricot-brown (ochraceous buff / yellow-brown).... Continue Reading →
Consider Cortinarius glaucocephalus when you find a glutinous dark, blackish to blue-green or highly variable Phlegmaciod with distinctively streaked cap, and somewhat yellow-brown disc in mature specimens.
Cortinarius rufosanguineus is a red Dermocybe in section Sanguinei. It occurs in subalpine and alpine heath and has a larger overall stature than species of similar red coloration.
Cortinarius causticus is one of the most common species in section Vibratiles in the Pacific Northwest. It can be recognized by the viscid ochraceous-tawny cap with bitter cuticle, small stature with relatively long, slender, sheathed stipe and yellow context.
Cortinarius birkebakii is a distinctive all-red species in sub-genus Dermocybe. It was described from the Pacific Northwest.
Cortinarius oregonensis is a relatively common mid to late-fall species in Washington state. Its pale cap with yellow disc, lilac young gills and viscidity should make it relatively easy to identify.
