Species details
Violet webcap
Cortinarius violaceus
Extra caution required
Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A large, almost entirely dark-violet webcap with a dry velvety-scaly cap, violet stem and initially violet gills.
Identification features
The cap is dry, dark violet and finely fibrillose-scaly. Young gills are violet, later reddish brown. The stem is dark violet, longitudinally fibrous and club-shaped at the base; the cortina is violet.
Identification checklist
Check that cap, stem and young gills are distinctly dark violet and that the cap surface is dry and velvety-fibrous. As it matures, the gills turn brown from the rust-brown spores.
How to separate similar species
Gassy webcap is usually paler, mainly associated with conifers and has an unpleasant smell. Wood blewit lacks a cortina and rust-brown spore print. Habitat is an important additional character.
Habitat
Mainly in shaded deciduous woodland with beech, oak, hornbeam and birch; in autumn.
Fruiting period
September, October, November