Are these Cortinarius??

[ron1863]

I found these growing in conoferous woodland and suspect that they are both the same species, Cortinarius but which one. Any help appreciated.

[flaxton]

The good news Ron is that it is a Cortinarius.
The bad news is that it is a Cortinarius
It does look fairly distinctive though so someone should be able to give slightly more suggestions. (other than stand on it)

Mal

[cybershot]

Cortinarius stillatitius - Purple Stocking Webcap, is my suggestion based on the similar looking species in the posting of your find in Lennox Forest in mid August Ron.

David

[ron1863]

Cheers folks I did think of Cortinarius stillatitius David but the purple on the stems of these were not as pronounced

Ron

[NickCantle]

To answer your question Ron, yes they are both members of Cortinarius.

They look like they belong to subgenus Myxacium as the pileus look quite 'juicy'. As David states, it's pretty distinctive as being around the C. stillatitius area. However, Andreas stated that C. stillatitius is generally a slender species and the second is quite subtantial. Cortinarius livido-ochraceus (Prev. syn. C. elatior) is the deciduous equivalent (well, a similar species at least), but we can rule this out based on the needles I presume. We need Andreas methinks

Confusing yes, fascinating yes, diverse YES

But do I love Cortinarius? God I do!

Once branded 'Cortinarius Cantle' by our Capandbracket on a foray in Morgaston Woods

[ron1863]

Cheers Nick, they were growing with Pine and conifer but there were a few Birch and Alder in the vicinity. A fitting nickname

[cowshill]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

But do I love Cortinarius? God I do!

Careful Nick! John Wright in the River Cottage Handbook on Mushrooms says, "I often advise people new to mycology ... to specialize in just one genus. ... If you decide to take this path, don't choose Cortinarius - that way madness lies."

- Jim

[cybershot]

For what it's worth a few remarks from FOS regarding the macro features of the two possibilities mentioned so far:

Cortinarius stillatitius - "This species is characterized by an olive- to ochre-brown, strongly slimy pileus, a lilac, slimy, non-circumcinct* stipe....."

(Andreas also mentions in Black's Nature Guides that its stipe base gives off a honey-like odour.)

Cortinarius livido-ochraceus - "This species is a double of C. stillatitius , which differs as follows: Pileus and marginal zone smooth,at most somewhat radially wrinkled when old, margin somewhat lilac when young, lamellae lilac tinted when young, frb smaller (pileus 30-80mm across)....."

As far as habitat is concerned the latter species "......prefers hardwoods such as Fagus and Betula....."

*Circumcinct - (stipe) banded with remnants of the veil.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by cowshill

Careful Nick! John Wright in the River Cottage Handbook on Mushrooms says, "I often advise people new to mycology ... to specialize in just one genus. ... If you decide to take this path, don't choose Cortinarius - that way madness lies."

- Jim

Madness it is ..and he never told us that on our foray with him, did he David?

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Madness it is ..and he never told us that on our foray with him, did he David?

No Nick, I put the insanity down to the intake of Stinger after the foray