Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Cortinarius comptulus

Cortinarius comptulus M.M. Moser

Gregarious (3) in needle litter, associated with Picea rubens, Nepisiguit Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (19-08-16/07). Collected by Amanda Bremner.

Basidiospores broadly ellipsoidal, with rather low warts and partially connected short ridges, strongly dextrinoid, 5.9-7.9 X 4.3-5.0 μm, D/d = 1.26-1.63 (average: 6.9 X 4.7 μm, D/d = 1.47).

Recognized by its dark red-brown cap with fine fibrillose scales toward the margin. These scales are not evident in the scan, but are clearly visible in the field photographs. The species is also said to be characterized by subglobose basidiospores, although those in the present collection seem less so than in European descriptions. The gill edges have clusters of cystidium-like elements. These are septate and rather hyphal in nature.

Photograph: A. Bremner (19-08-16/07).