Cortinarius anomalus Variable Webcap

Cortinarius anomalus is the most common webcap in West Glamorgan. The fruiting bodies are fairly robust with caps that are bluish-violet in young specimens, which become reddish-brown with age, and stems which are usually 1cm or more broad. The gills are also violet-tinged in young fruiting bodies but become ochre-brown with age. Fruiting bodies usually have a distinct radish-like smell and the spores are almost spherical in shape (see photo). It is a species of broad-leaved woodland and it occurs with Oak, Beech and Birch. Cortinarius anomalus is very similar to Cortinarius lepidopus which is smaller, less blue-lilac in colour and usually associated with Birch.