Cortinarius

Cortinarius is a globally distributed genus of mushrooms in the family Cortinariaceae.^[1] It is suspected to be the largest genus of agarics, containing over 2,000 widespread species.^[2] A common feature among all species in the genus Cortinarius is that young specimens have a cortina (veil) between the cap and the stem, hence the name, meaning curtained. Most of the fibres of the cortina are ephemeral and will leave no trace once gone, except for limited remnants on the stem or cap edge in some species. All have a rusty brown spore print. The common names cortinar and webcap refer to members of the genus. Due to dangerous toxicity of several species (such as Cortinarius orellanus) and the fact that it is difficult to distinguish between various species of the genus, non-expert consumption of mushrooms from the genus is discouraged.

Cortinarius
Cortinarius archeri
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Cortinariaceae
Genus:	Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray (1821)
Type species
Cortinarius violaceus (L.) Gray (1821)
Diversity
ca. 2000 species

C. violaceus

Distinguishing features

The veil protects the gills in younger specimens and usually disappears leaving little to no trace of itself as the mushroom grows. The spores of a Cortinarius mushroom are rust brown to brownish red in color. It is usually possible to identify a mushroom as being a member of the genus, but extremely difficult to positively identify the species as many of the species are nearly identical. All mushrooms in this genus form mycorrhizae.^[3]

Many mushrooms in the genus, for example Cortinarius sanguineus and other species in section Dermocybe, are colourful and are often used for dyeing.

Toxicity

Several mushrooms in the genus Cortinarius are poisonous, mainly because they cause acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Some are even lethal, such as Cortinarius rubellus and Cortinarius orellanus. Many Cortinarius varieties can be mistaken for other edible mushrooms (such as the Blewit mushroom) and should therefore be researched before consumption. However, some species—notably the species, Cortinarius praestans and Cortinarius caperatus—are edible and appreciated in several European cuisines.

The toxin in Cortinarius species, orellanine, is easy to detect because it is fluorescent. It has been found in at least 34 Cortinariaceae.^[4]

Classification

Molecular studies of members of the genus Rozites, including its most famous member R. caperata, have shown them nested within Cortinarius and have been sunk into this genus. This genus was erected on the basis of a double veil, yet its members do not form a discrete lineage and lie nested within Cortinarius. Hence the genus is no longer recognised.^[5]

Some consider the subgenus Dermocybe to have generic status.^[6] It does form a single lineage, but lies within Cortinarius so the consensus has been to sink it into the larger genus.^[7]

Selected species

Main article: List of Cortinarius species

• Cortinarius austrovenetus - also known as Dermocybe austroveneta or green skin-head is an Australian fungus typical of the brightly coloured Dermocybe subgenus.
• Cortinarius caperatus, the "gypsy mushroom", is an edible mushroom found in northern regions of Europe and North America.
• Cortinarius orellanus and C. rubellus are two of the deadly webcaps found in Europe and North America.

References

1. "Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. GBIF Secretariat. 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
2. Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-85199-826-8.
3. Singer R. (1986). The Agaricales in Modern Taxonomy (4th ed.). Königstein im Taunus, Germany: Koeltz Scientific Books. p. 441. ISBN 3-87429-254-1.
4. Oubrahim H, Richard J-M, Cantin-Esnault D, Seigle-Murandi F, Trecourt F (1997). "Novel methods for identification and quantification of the mushroom nephrotoxin orellanine. Thin-layer chromatography and electrophoresis screening of mushrooms with electron spin resonance determination of the toxin". Journal of Chromatography. 758 (1): 145–57. doi:10.1016/S0021-9673(96)00695-4. PMID 9181972.
5. Peintner U, Horak E, Moser M, Vilgalys R (2002). "Rozites, Cuphocybe and Rapacea are taxonomic synonyms of Cortinarius: New combinations and new names". Mycotaxon. 83: 447–51.
6. Bougher, N. L. & J. M. Trappe (2002). "Dermocybe globuliformis: first report of a hypogeous species for the genus". Australasian Mycologist. 21 (1): 1–3.
7. Høiland K, Holst-Jensen A (2000). "Cortinarius Phylogeny and Possible Taxonomic Implications of ITS rDNA Sequences". Mycologia. 92 (4): 694–710. doi:10.2307/3761427. JSTOR 3761427.