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Cortinarius paleaceus is a small lamellar mushroom from the family Cortinariaceae and the genus Cortinaria. It was first described in 1801 and given the name tortuous champignon. Its other scientific names are Cortinarius paleiferus, given by Christian Persoon in 1838. Previously, all these mushrooms were considered different species, then they were combined into one common one.
Description of the membranous webweed
The mushroom does not reach large sizes. Depending on weather conditions, it is able to change its color and density of pulp.
Only sprouted fruiting bodies have an attractive appearance
Description of the cap
When young, the membranous web has a bell-shaped cap with a noticeably elongated papillary tubercle at the top. As it develops, the cap straightens out, becoming umbrella-shaped and then prostrate, with a cone-shaped tubercle in the center. The surface is uniformly colored and has lighter radial stripes. Covered with golden-straw or white bristles, velvety, dry. The color is chestnut, dark brown. When dry it turns pale fawn. The diameter of the cap is from 0.8 to 3.2 cm.
The hymenophore plates are frequent, uneven, free or serrated. Color ranges from beige-cream to chestnut and rusty-black-brown. The pulp is thin, fragile, ocher, black-violet, light chocolate or rusty brown in color, and has a light geranium aroma.
In humid weather, the caps become slimy and shiny
Description of the leg
The leg is dense, hard, longitudinally fibrous. It can be curved, hollow inside, the flesh is rubbery, elastic, rusty brown. The surface is dry, covered with white-grayish fluff. Dimensions reach 6-15 cm in length and 0.3-0.9 cm in diameter. Color beige, violet-brown, black-brown.
In relation to the cap, the stalks of fruiting bodies can reach significant sizes.
Where and how does it grow
The filmy spider web lives in Europe and North America. In Russia, its colonies have been spotted in the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve in the Far East. Its distribution range is wide, but it can be found rarely.
Grows in mixed coniferous-deciduous forests from mid-summer to September. Especially loves birch groves.Prefers wet places, ravines, lowlands, drying swamps. Often grows in moss. It settles in large groups of separately spaced fruiting bodies of different ages.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The membranous cobweb is classified as an inedible species due to its low nutritional value. There is no exact data on the substances contained in it in open sources.
Doubles and their differences
The filmy web has similarities with close relatives.
Gossamer blue-gray. Conditionally edible. It is distinguished by its larger size, up to 10 cm, and its silvery-bluish, beige-ocher color.
The leg has a light color: white, slightly blue with red-sun spots
Cobweb semi-hairy. Inedible. It is distinguished by its large size and light colored legs.
The stems of these mushrooms are medium in size and quite fleshy.
Conclusion
Membranous cobweb is a small, rare mushroom from the genus Cobweb. It is found everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, but not too abundantly. In Russia it grows in the Far East. Prefers proximity to birch trees, the outskirts of swamps, and feels great in mosses. Inedible, has doubles.
