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Brown cobweb is a mushroom from the genus Cobwebs, family Cortinariaceae (Cobwebs). In Latin - Cortinarius cinnamomeus. Its other names are cinnamon, dark brown. All cobwebs have a characteristic feature - a “cobwebby” film, which in young specimens connects the stem and cap. This species is called cinnamon because of its unpleasant odor, which resembles iodoform.
Description of the brown webweed
The fruit body is brown with an olive tint, hence the names "brown" and "dark brown".
Description of the cap
The mushroom is widespread, but little known. Experienced mushroom pickers can recognize brown spiderwort from the photo and description. Its cap is small, on average from 2 to 8 cm in diameter. The shape is conical, sometimes hemispherical. Over time, as it opens up, it becomes 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 yellow blanket. The main color has various shades of brown: reddish, ocher, olive, purple.
The mushroom belongs to the lamellar section. Its plates are wide and frequent, have a yellow-orange tint in young mushrooms and rusty brown in old ones, after the spores have matured. The plates grow to the stem with a tooth. The pulp is yellow-brown and smells unpleasant.
Description of the leg
The stalk is fibrous, in the shape of a cylinder or a cone slightly widening towards the base. Often covered with the remains of cortina, or cobwebby blanket, or whitish mycelium.
Where and how does it grow
Cinnamon cobweb grows in temperate climates. It is found in 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 Russia too. It is distributed in temperate latitudes, from the western to eastern borders. Its habitat also covers areas in Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
It is found more often singly or in small groups in deciduous forests or among conifers. It is characterized by the formation of mycorrhiza with spruce and pine trees. Hearth bodies are collected in August – September, sometimes until mid-October.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The brown cobweb contains no toxic substances hazardous to human health. No cases of poisoning have been recorded. However, it tastes unpleasant and has a pungent odor. For this reason, it is not eaten and is classified as inedible.
Doubles and their differences
Many representatives of the genus Cobwebs are similar to each other and resemble toadstools in appearance. It is difficult to determine exactly which species a particular mushroom belongs to. Only specialists can do this. Collecting such specimens must be done with great care, and it is better not to do it at all.
Brown webwort is easily confused with saffron webwort. This mushroom is inedible. Its characteristic difference is in the color of the plates and young fruiting bodies. They are yellow, while the brown spiderwort is closer to orange in color.
Conclusion
The brown cobweb is of no interest to mushroom pickers and cooks. If you meet him in the forest, it is better to refuse the temptation to put the mushroom in the basket. However, it has found another application - in the production of wool products. Brown cobweb is one of the few species used as a natural dye. With its help, wool is given beautiful dark red and burgundy shades.
