About this fungus
Variable Webcap is a fungus in the Cortinariaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A variable grey-brown to ochre webcap with fleeting lilac or blue-violet tones, especially in young gills and near the top of the stem.
What to check
Young gills are grey-violet to lilac and become rusty brown. The pale fibrous stem often has yellowish or ochre veil bands and a violet flush near the top. There is no true ring or volva. A rusty-brown spore print confirms Cortinarius, but microscopy is often needed for the species.
Variation
Young mushrooms can be distinctly violet-grey, while older specimens fade to ochre, grey-brown or reddish brown. The name is also used for a difficult complex whose members differ between continents.
Lookalikes
Cortinarius alboviolaceus has a stronger silky whitish to violet veil, while C. caninus and other members of section Anomali can be extremely similar. These cannot be safely separated by cap colour alone. The genus contains deadly kidney-toxic species, so an uncertain webcap must never be treated as edible.
Habitat and range
Mycorrhizal in broadleaf, mixed and coniferous woodland across the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Reported hosts include birch, oak and conifers, but regional species within the complex may differ.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
James Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0