Cortinarius cinnabarinus Fr. subgenus Dermocybe Cap 2-6cm across, conic, then plane with a slight umbo; cinnabar red, fading with age; matted with dry, shining, innate fibrils. Gills adnate; cinnabar red then dark rusty red. Stem 20-50 x 3-8mm, normally equal but base sometimes swollen; dull cinnabar red, fading; silky. Flesh pallid with reddish tints. Odor slight. Taste mild. Spores ellipsoid, very rough ,8.5-10 x 4-6µ-, quotient 1.85. Deposit rusty brown. Habitat in oak and beech woods. Uncommon. Found in northeastern North America, south to North Carolina and west to Wisconsin. Season August. Not edible. Comment My specimens are not as completely cinnabar red as this species normally is. It is probable that American collections will be found to differ from the Friesian species and will be given another name, possibly Cortinarius heslerii Ammirati & Smith ined. |