Cortinarius cingulatus

A striking Cortinarius recognizable by the remnants of an ochraceous-yellow universal veil that girdle the middle and lower stipe in conspicuous bands.

Also known as Cortinarius luteoperonatus, it could be confused with its lookalike C. lebretonii. In separating it from the latter, the following characters were decisive: 2-spored basidia, larger spores, and an ecological occurrence in Mediterranean sclerophyllous woods, contrasting with lebretonii which is typically associated with beech forests.

The studied collection was gathered in a sandy holm oak wood in early November in Lantarón (Álava).