Cortinarius violaceus

Appearance

''Cortinarius violaceus'' has a convex cap of 3.5 to 15 centimetres across with an incurved margin. In colour, it is a dark violet to blue-black, and is covered in fine, downy scales. The stem is 6 to 12 centimetres tall, while 1 to 2 centimetres thick. Due to its swollen, bulbous nature, the base of the stem can sometimes be as wide as 4 centimetres thick. The stem is a similar colour to the cap, and covered in woolly fibrils. Younger specimens feature a veil, but this vanishes quickly. The flesh is violet, but darker below the cap's cuticle and in the stem. The gills are dark violet, changing to a purplish-brown with age. The species is the only one in the genus to have cystidia on both the faces and the edges of the gills. In shape, the gills are adnate, becoming adnexed, and are fairly well-spaced.



The spore print is rust-coloured, while the spores themselves measure 12 to 15 micrometres by 7 to 8.5 micrometres , and are rough, shaped from elliptically to almond-shaped.

Some mycologists classify ''C. violaceus'' as two distinct species- ''Cortinarius violaceus'', and ''Cortinarius hercynicus'', differentiated due to the latter's rounder spores.

Of the many violet-coloured ''Cortinarius'' species, ''C. violaceus'' is the most deeply coloured. It is sometimes so dark that it is almost black, making it difficult to notice in woodland. The only other mushrooms with a comparable colour are certain ''Leptonia'' species, including ''L. carnea'' and ''L. nigroviolacea''. The ''Leptonia'' species are easily differentiated due to their pink spore print.

Distribution

''Cortinarius violaceus'' is found in North America, Europe, Central America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand....hieroglyph snipped... It is an uncommon species, found in Europe in deciduous woodland during autumn, especially among oak, birch and beech, but is also found on occasion with conifers. In North America, it favours conifers, and, though rare over much of the continent, is relatively common in certain areas including Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park. Fruit bodies occur solitarily or in small groups, often near rotting wood.

Habitat

''Cortinarius violaceus'' is found in North America, Europe, Central America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand....hieroglyph snipped... It is an uncommon species, found in Europe in deciduous woodland during autumn, especially among oak, birch and beech, but is also found on occasion with conifers. In North America, it favours conifers, and, though rare over much of the continent, is relatively common in certain areas including Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park. Fruit bodies occur solitarily or in small groups, often near rotting wood.

Uses

The flesh of ''C. violaceus'' has a mild taste, with a slight smell reminiscent of cedar-wood. It is considered edible, but is not choice; instead, its primary appeal, according to Arora, is its beauty. The taste after cooking is reportedly bitter. Though some ''Cortinarius'' species can be used to make dyes, ''C. violaceus'', despite its dark colour, is not one of them.