Girdled Webcap - Cortinarius trivialis

Identification of webcaps is very difficult, and unfortunately there are many brownish species with macroscopic characteristics similar to this unremarkable member of the clan; fortunately, the 'girdled' stem is a helpful identifying feature of Cortinarius trivialis. The caps of this species are 3.5 to 11 cm in diameter; conico-convex at first, expanding until almost flat or occasionally with a shallow central depression but retaining a slight umbo; tawny to bay brown sometimes with a central bluish flush that is soon lost, the caps are paler towards the margin; extremely viscid.

Good photographs required including an image of the girdled stem.

Ectomycorrhizal, in boggy broadleaf woodland.

August to October.

An uncommon but quite widespread species in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.