Cortinarius scobinaceus

A small cistophilous Cortinarius that fruits primarily in winter in Mediterranean habitats associated with rockroses (Cistus spp.).

The small pileus (not exceeding 3 cm) covered with whitish scales or fine fibrils, slightly decurrent lamellae with lilac tones when young, and strict ecological association readily guide identification.

It may be confused with Cortinarius cistohelvelloides, which shares the same habitat, but the latter differs in spore morphology and lower average spore quotient.

We typically find this species in March in Mediterranean holm oak woodland in Los Llanos de Bureba (Burgos), fruiting in small troops in open clearings with Cistus salviifolius.