Contents
The brilliant cobweb (Cortinarius evernius) belongs to the Spider web family and is extremely rare in Our Country. During wet weather, its cap becomes shiny and covered with transparent slime, acquiring a glossy sheen, from which it gets its name.
What does a brilliant cobweb look like
In accordance with its generic name, the fungus has remnants of a velum with a cobweb structure. The flesh is tasteless reddish in color with a slight unpleasant odor.
The spore body of the cobweb is of a brilliant brown hue, consists of rare plates adhering to the stem. The spore powder has a rusty-brown color. The spores themselves are medium in size, smooth-walled, oval in shape.
In a young mushroom, the shape is first sharply bell-shaped, dark brown in color with a purple tint.
Cap Description
The mushroom cap is round in shape, its diameter is approximately 3-4 cm. With age, it opens, the margins increase, and a small tubercle remains in the center. The color varies from dark brown with a lilac tint to rusty orange.
The plates on the inner side, grown with a tooth, are wide, have an average frequency. The color is grayish brown, later becoming chestnut with a purple tint. The cobweb bedspread remains white throughout its growth.
The flesh of the cap is also thin, but dense, has a brown color with a purple tint.
Description of the leg
The stem of the mushroom has the shape of a cylinder, tapering towards the base. Its length is 5-10 cm, and its diameter is approximately 0,5-1 cm. The color varies from gray to lilac-coffee. White rings are visible along the entire length, which disappear with high humidity.
Inside the leg is hollow smooth and fibrous-silky
Where and how to grow
The most common cobweb brilliant in the north of the European part of Our Country and in the middle lane, is also found in the Caucasus. The beginning of the season falls on the end of summer – from the second half of August. Grows in mixed and coniferous forests.
Most often found in mossy places with high humidity: ravines, lowlands or near swamps. Brilliant cobwebs grow in small groups of 2-4 mushrooms at the foot of pines and spruces. Also found singly under bushes and among fallen leaves.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The cobweb brilliant belongs to inedible mushrooms. It does not contain toxic substances and is not hazardous to health, but the unpleasant smell and taste of the pulp make it unsuitable for human consumption.
Twins and their differences
The brilliant cobweb can be easily confused with several more representatives of this species.
Mucus cobweb (Cortinarius mucifluus) – is a conditionally edible species. The diameter of the cap is from 10 to 12 cm. The shape is first bell-shaped, after which it straightens and becomes flat with uneven jagged edges. The stem is fusiform, 15-20 cm long with a white color. The pulp is creamy, tasteless and odorless.
It differs from the brilliant cobweb in the absence of an unpleasant odor and mucus on the hat even in dry weather
The webcap is beautiful or reddish (Cortinarius rubellus) is a poisonous mushroom, classified as inedible. The length of the stem is 5-12 cm and from 0,5 to 1,5 cm in thickness, expanding downwards. It has a fibrous surface of brown-orange color with light rings along the entire length. The diameter of the cap varies from 4 to 8 cm. The initial shape is conical. Further, it levels off, leaving a small convex mound at the top. The surface is smooth and dry with uneven edges of brown-red or brown-purple color. The flesh is yellow-orange, odorless and tasteless.
It differs from the brilliant cobweb in a rusty-reddish color and a lighter shade of the cap.
Conclusion
The cobweb brilliant is strictly not recommended to be cut and eaten. Having found it in the forest, one should be extremely careful: other edible cobwebs can be confused with it. Most often it can be found in forests dominated by pines and birches.
