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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
In mature fruit bodies the lamellae are usually dark brown, but in young
ones they may be of different colors such as white, yellow, olivaceous, or lilac,
and the color of the young lamellae is very important in the identification of
species. In a great many Cortinarii it is necessary to have a series of stages from
young buttons to mature plants before the species can be identified. Micro-
scopic characters, especially the size and shape of the spores, are also important
in distinguishing species.
Kauffman (1932) has given the most complete account of the North
American species. He recognized seven sections of the genus as follows
1
.
Myxacium, in which both the pileus and the stipe are viscid
2. Bulbopodium, in which only the pileus is viscid and the stipe is furnished
with a marginate bulb;
3. Phlegmacium, in which the pileus is viscid and if the stipe is bulbous the
bulb is not marginate;
4. Inoloma, in which the pileus is neither viscid nor hygrophanous but is
usually fibrillose or scaly, and the stipe rather stout and usually clavate-
bulbous;
5. Dermocybe^ in which the pileus is neither viscid nor hygrophanous, but is
usually silky, and the stipe rather slender;
6. Telamonia, in which the pileus is hygrophanous and a universal veil is
present
;
7. Hydrocybe, in which the pileus is hygrophanous and a universal veil is
lacking.
Cortinarius is a genus which, in general, should be avoided by the amateur
who is collecting for the table. Some of the species are known to be deadly and
some are unpleasant to the taste. In addition, the difficulty of determining the
species accurately is so great that they are best left alone.
Only a very few of the commoner and more striking species that are not
likely to be confused with others are described here.
CORTINARIUS ALBOVIOLACEUS (Fr.) Kummer Edible
Figure 341, page 235
PILEUS 1-2 ]/2 in. broad, fleshy, at first campanulate, then convex and
broadly umbonate, at first pale violaceous, soon becoming silvery-white and
shining, usually slightly violaceous tinged, surface dry, appressed-silky, margin
decurved. flesh tinged violet, odor and taste mild, lamellae adnate to emargi-
nate or slightly decurrent, close, rather broad, at first pale violet, finally
becoming cinnamon-brown, stipe n/2-3 in. long, V^-Vi in. thick near the
apex, becoming thicker below and somewhat clavate, usually sheathed by a
thin, whitish, universal veil, violaceous in the upper part and beneath the veil,
spongy-stuffed, spores brown, elliptical, slightly rough, 6.5-10 X 4.5-6.0 ju.
180
In groups on the ground in mixed woods. Aug.-Oct.
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