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Mushroom Monday: Webcap Mushrooms (Cortinarius multiformis)
Today’s Mushroom Monday mushroom is Cortinarius multiformis. One common name for it is the webcap mushroom. Learn more about Cortinarius multiformis in today’s TrueTreeTalk post.
What Do Cortinarius multiformis Mushrooms Look Like?
Cortinarius multiformis mushrooms are generally yellowish in color with stems with bulbous bases.
The Caps
The caps of Cortinarius multiformis mushrooms can range in size from around 1.5 to 4 inches across. They start out convex, but can flatten with age. They’re hairless and can have a sticky feel when young, and their color ranges from yellow to brown to orange, with various mixed shades. When the cap is young it is covered with a whitish gray veil, however, the covering does not last. This covering can explain the common name, webcap.
The Gills
The gills and stem of Cortinarius multiformis mushrooms are attached. They start out white, but darken to a reddish brown color as the mushroom matures. This darkening of gills is something that can be seen in a number of other mushrooms.
The Stem
The mushroom’s stem ranges in height from around 1.5 to around 3.2 inches, is dry, and generally hairless (though it can have some hairs on it). It has a steady diameter along its length, but it gets wider at the base. The swollen base is one important feature of this mushroom. The base can have a rim, but it can disappear as the mushroom ages. The stem starts out with a whitish color, but this darkens to brown as the mushroom matures. On the stem, there may be some signs of a ring, as well as some parts of the veil.
Where can Cortinarius multiformis Mushrooms be Found?
Cortinarius multiformis mushrooms are mycorrhizal mushrooms that are associated with conifers, particularly spruce. They can be found in Europe and in northern and mountainous regions of North America.
What do Cortinarius multiformis Mushrooms Smell Like?
These mushrooms can have a sweet scent and can smell a bit like honey.
What are Some Related Mushrooms?
One related mushroom that is similar in appearance is Cortinarius talus, the honey webcap. Another related mushroom that we’ve looked at before, was the Violet Webcap, although its appearance is different.
If you liked learning about Cortinarius multiformis, check out our other Mushroom Monday posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts.
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