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The brown cobweb is a mushroom from the genus Cobwebs, the Cortinariaceae (Spider) family. Latin for Cortinarius cinnamomeus. Its other names are cinnamon, dark brown. All cobwebs have a characteristic feature – a “cobweb” film, which in young specimens connects the stem and cap. And this species is called cinnamon for an unpleasant smell that resembles iodoform.
Description of the brown cobweb
The fruiting body is colored brown with an olive tint, hence the name “brown” and “dark brown”.
Cap Description
The fungus is widespread but little known. According to the photo and description, the brown cobweb is able to recognize experienced mushroom pickers. Its hat is small, on average from 2 to 8 cm in diameter. The shape is conical, sometimes hemispherical. Over time, expanding, flattened. In the central part, a sharp or wide tubercle becomes more noticeable.
The surface of the cap is fibrous to the touch. It has a cobwebby coverlet of yellow color. The main color has various shades of brown: reddish, ocher, olive, purple.
The fungus belongs to the lamellar section. Its plates are wide and frequent, yellow-orange in young mushrooms and rusty-brown in old ones, after maturation of the spores. The plates adhere to the leg with a tooth. The flesh is yellow-brown, unpleasantly smelling.
Description of the leg
The leg is fibrous, in the form of a cylinder or a cone slightly expanding towards the base. Often covered with remnants of cortina, or cobweb, or whitish mycelium.
Where and how to grow
Cinnamon cobweb grows in temperate climates. It is found on the territory of Western European countries, such as Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Great Britain, Finland, as well as in the eastern part of Europe – in Romania and the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic countries. There is a mushroom in Our Country. It is distributed in temperate latitudes, from the western to the eastern borders. The area of its growth also captures areas in Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
It occurs more often singly or in small groups in deciduous forests or among conifers. It is characterized by the formation of mycorrhiza with spruces and pines. Hearth bodies are collected in August – September, sometimes until mid-October.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The composition of the brown cobweb does not contain toxic substances dangerous to human health. No cases of poisoning were recorded. However, it is unpleasant in taste and has a pungent odor. For this reason, it is not eaten and is classified as inedible.
Twins and their differences
Many representatives of the genus Spider webs are similar to each other and outwardly resemble grebes. It is difficult to determine exactly which species a particular mushroom belongs to. This is only possible for specialists. It is necessary to collect such specimens with great care, but it is better not to do this at all.
Cobweb brown is easy to confuse with saffron cobweb. This mushroom is inedible. Its characteristic difference is in the color of the plates and young fruiting bodies. They are yellow, while in the brown cobweb their colors are closer to orange.
Conclusion
Cobweb brown for mushroom pickers and cooks is not of interest. Having met him in the forest, it is better to refuse the temptation to put the mushroom in a basket. However, he found another application – in the manufacture of wool products. Cobweb brown is one of the few species used as a natural dye. With its help, wool is given beautiful dark red and burgundy shades.