Cortinarius sp. (indet.) Undetermined Telamonia Webcap

Cortinarius species that belong to the Section Telamonia often present a significant identification challenge. Few can be identified with any great confidence in the field and some are extremely difficult even after collection and study. At that point, DNA analysis is required for any progress. Telamonia is the largest section in the genus Cortinarius and the number of species in Europe alone is probably in the thousands. New species are being described fairly frequently and the chances of collecting a species that hasn't yet been described, even in a local region like West Glamorgan, is not unlikely.

The specimens shown in the photographs here were collected from a Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) coupe in Blaendulais (Neath Port Talbot). They were found growing in mossy needle litter in a small cluster of about 20 individulas, with caps varying from 2cm to 6cm in diameter. The reddish-brown cap has a striate margin and a distinct, darker brown umbo. The dark brown cap contrasts with the white stem. The gills are a pale, yellowish-brown colour and are medium-spaced. Some hours after collection, with a period of drying, the fruiting bodies had a definite smell of iodoform (medicine cupboard or hospital smell) - this was not evident with the freshly collected specimens. The collection resembles Cortinarius obtusus in many respects and may be a form of this very variable species, which is probably a complex of several species that needs further investigation.