Cortinarius purpurascens Bruising Webcap

Cortinarius purpurascens is a striking webcap whose large fruiting bodies are lilac-blue when young but become more brown with age. The stout stem is bulbous at its base with a distinct marginate edge, The flesh stains wine-red when treated with Melzer's iodine. There are few records of it in West Glamorgan where it occurs with Beech. Elsewhere in Britain it is reported to be common in conifer forests.  It is similar to and often confused with Cortinarius collocandoides.