A rare Cortinarius?

[waynehicks1]

I found these yesterday, growing in small clumps below a sweet chestnut tree. At first they looked pretty ordinary but then I decided to take a closer look and cut one in half, wow!








I'm sure they are members of the Cortinarius genus, but could I have found my first rare species, Cortinarius violacius?

Here's hoping

Wayne

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by waynehicks1

I found these yesterday, growing in small clumps below a sweet chestnut tree. At first they looked pretty ordinary but then I decided to take a closer look and cut one in half, wow!








I'm sure they are members of the Cortinarius genus, but could I have found my first rare species, Cortinarius violacius?

Here's hoping

Wayne

Not C. violacius Wayne, it looks like C. purpurescens to me.

Andy

[gobbiner]

WOW these sure do all look alike in my Collins book it looks very much like the Cortinarius anomalus (Variable Webcap) but with my near zero experience i will just watch and learn

[Ditiola]

Hi Wayne

Cortinarius are notorious difficult to identify especially as there are so many of them. There are about 230 in the UK (so far!) You will find that many experienced field mycologists shy away from trying to put a species name to a Cortinarius.

When you find one that has very striking colours that looks like it will be easy to identify you find there are another 20 similar ones. It is perhaps best to be satisfied with getting it to the genus, unless of course you would like to work towards being a new UK Cortinarius expert. They are in short supply and we could do with a few more

Peter

[waynehicks1]

Whenever I find a member of the Cortinarius genus I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that it will end up in my 'unidentified folder'. As you have pointed out Peter, with it's striking colour, I thought I'd have half a chance with this one...

Andy, I hope this next shot will help confirm your initial determination. This was a separate specimen, same species, which was growing next to those in my initial photo:



DING DING, round two

Wayne

[NickCantle]

Definitely not C. violaceous mate, sorry!

You'll know if you've found C. violaceous because when you stumble across it, your jaw will drop. It's just an absolutely stunning species. I have unfortunately never seen it myself but I've seen many photographs of it. Even the photos are amazing!

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Definitely not C. violaceous mate, sorry!

You'll know if you've found C. violaceous because when you stumble across it, your jaw will drop. It's just an absolutely stunning species. I have unfortunately never seen it myself but I've seen many photographs of it. Even the photos are amazing!

I have a couple of areas that I visit yearly, where C. violaceus occurs, it is a beautiful species when young, however, it browns as it matures and loses that vibrant violet colour. The cap when young has a granular look to it, unlike the smooth appearance of the species shown in Waynes mail.

Andy

[waynehicks1]

Thanks guys, I shall keep my eyes peeled