Marsh webcap (Cortinarius uliginosus)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Cortinariaceae (Spiderwebs)
- Genus: Cortinarius (Webcap)
- Species: Cortinarius uliginosus (Marsh webcap)
Other names:
-
Coastal webcap
-
Willow webcap
-
Marsh webcap
Description: Hat 2-6 cm in diameter, fibrous-silky texture, from bright copper-orange to brick-red, humped to pointed.
The plates are bright yellow, saffron with age.
Spores are wide, ellipsoidal to almond-shaped, medium to coarsely tuberous.
Leg up to 10 cm high and up to 8 mm in diameter, cap color, fibrous texture, with red bands of bedspread marks.
The pulp is pale yellow, under the cuticle of the cap with a reddish tint, with a faint smell of iodoform.
Distribution: Grows on moist soil next to willows or (much less often) with alder, most often along the edges of lakes or along rivers, as well as in swamps. Prefers lowlands, but also occurs in the alpine regions in dense willow thickets.
Similarity: Similar to some other members of the subgenus Dermocybe, in particular Cortinarius croceoconus and aureifolius, which, however, are noticeably darker and have different habitats. The view as a whole is quite bright and remarkable.
Remembering its habitat and affection for willows, it is difficult to confuse it with others.
Assessment: Direct data on edibility are not available, however, given that the fungus is close to poisonous relatives of the subgenus Dermocybe, it is most likely also poisonous.
Varieties: Cortinarius uliginosus var. luteus Gabriel – differs from the type species in olive-lemon color.
Related species: 1. Cortinarius salignus – also forms mycorrhiza with willows, but has a darker color; 2. Cortinarius alnophilus – forms mycorrhiza with alder and has pale yellow plates; 3. Cortinarius holoxanthus – lives on coniferous needles.
