Cortinarius bolaris

Morphological Features:

Pileus relatively small for the genus, fully developed specimens barely exceeding 5 cm in diameter; initially subglobose, soon convex, eventually flattening and even becoming depressed in the center. Its surface is entirely covered with reddish scales adorning a lighter, whitish background, giving an overall cracked appearance. This surface yellows upon touching or handling. Margin smooth and irregular.

Lamellae adnate or sometimes subdecurrent, fairly distant from each other and with few lamellulae; after sporulation they assume a ferruginous tone, but when young they are ochraceous cream.

Stipe white in the region near the hymenium, the remainder yellowish, pruinose in the apical region and adorned with cinnabar-red floccules elsewhere. Fusiform in shape, sometimes curved, usually attenuated at the base, solid. Its cortina is white, staining reddish, and tends to disappear very easily. Like the pileus, it yellows superficially upon contact.

Flesh whitish when cut, except beneath the cuticle where it is somewhat yellow, and at the base, intensely yellow. As it yellows upon exposure to air, it gives the appearance of being that color. Its odor is unremarkable and its taste slightly bitter.

Habitat:

This fungus has always been observed by us in beech forests, but it may also appear under other broadleaf trees. It favors acidic soils; in fact, we have never observed it on any other soil type. Collected in late summer, it also appears during autumn, being an uncommon species.

Observations:

Within the challenging world of Cortinarius, this is one of those few species that can be recognized macroscopically with relative ease, aided by the peculiar appearance of its pileus, which is cracked into cinnabar-red scales from a very young stage. The only species that may bear some resemblance to it is Cortinarius rubicundulus, which also has an acidophilous habitat and similar coloration, although its cuticle never cracks in this manner.