Scaly Webcap

Cortinarius pholideus

Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies medium-sized, large. Cap 5-10 (12) cm across, when young conical, when old flattened, usually with a blunt umbo, densely covered with brown fibrous scales on a yellowish background. Veil violet. Gills pale violet, quickly becoming pale brown, brown, adnexed. Stem 5-12 (14) x1-2 cm, with a ring-like remnant, violet above it, below it, like the cap, brown-fibrous, scaly. Flesh brownish, without a particular smell or taste. Characteristic features: cap and stem brown-fibrous, scaly. Grows singly or in small groups in forests, most often under birches and aspens, in damp grassy places. Common, edible. An easily recognised webcap.