Cortinarius phoeniceus var. occidentalis

[Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Cortinariaceae > Cortinarius > Dermocybe ... ]

by Michael Kuo

The "bloody Dermocybes" form an easily recognized group of Cortinarius species with blood-red gills, known to mycologists as subgenus Dermocybe, section Sanguinei. Among them, Cortinarius phoeniceus is distinguished by the colors of its parts: reddish cap, red gills, yellowish stem. Similar species differ on one or more of these colorations.

However, there are several varieties and forms of Cortinarius phoeniceus. The "true" Cortinarius phoeniceus, variety phoeniceus, has a reddish brown or reddish cinnamon cap, and grows under pines. It is recorded from Tennessee and Michigan, but is apparently quite rare on our continent. Frequently encountered in the Pacific Northwest is variety occidentalis, featured here. It grows under conifers (not just pines) and has a maroon to blood-red cap. One unnamed form of Cortinarius phoeniceus var. occidentalis (are you sick of this yet?) has fairly prominent reddish fibers on its stem and is found in northern California and Oregon.

None of these mushrooms should be eaten--but they are avidly sought by practitioners of the art of dyeing with mushrooms, since their pigments are striking and durable.

Description:

Ecology: Mycorrhizal with conifers; growing gregariously or in clusters; fall and winter (at higher elevations it is sometimes found in late summer); Pacific Northwest.

Cap: 3-8 cm; broadly convex, becoming broadly bell-shaped or nearly flat; dry; silky; deep red to maroon; the margin usually somewhat inrolled.

Gills: Attached to the stem; distant or nearly so; dark red to purplish red, becoming rusty red; covered by a cortina when young.

Stem: 4-7 cm long; up to about 1 cm thick; more or less equal; dry or sticky; silky with yellowish or reddish fibers; yellowish, or discoloring reddish with age.

Flesh: Yellowish to olive or brownish.

Odor: Not distinctive.

Chemical Reactions: KOH on cap surface purple-black.

Spore Print: Rusty brown.

Microscopic Features: Spores 6-8 x 4-4.5 µ; elliptical; roughened.

Dermocybe phoenicea is a synonym.

REFERENCES: A. H. Smith, 1939. (Smith, 1939; Smith, 1949; Ammirati, 1972; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Ammirati & Smith, 1984; Arora, 1986; Ammirati, 1989.)

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, February). Cortinarius phoeniceus var. occidentalis. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/cortinarius_phoeniceus_occidentalis.html