Cortinarius species
“Myrtaceae-silky-violet”
Description:
A small, deep purple, silky‑capped Cortinarius with a slender violet stipe, sparse cortina, and Myrtaceae forest ecology. Rare, North Island, genetically distinct, and currently undescribed.

Pileus: 30-50 mm diam., convex to broadly convex, sometimes slightly depressed in age. Surface dry, silky‑fibrous, deep purple to purplish‑black, often with a subtle sheen; margin even, sometimes faintly paler. Colour stable in dry conditions; not strongly hygrophanous. Flesh thin, violet‑tinged.
Lamellae: Adnate to adnexed, moderately spaced, pale violet‑brown to grey‑brown, darkening with age. Edges even.
Stipe: 20-60 x 3-6 mm, slender, cylindrical, violet to lilac‑purple, sometimes paler toward the base. Surface dry, finely fibrillose; context violet‑tinged. No distinct bulb.
Veil / Cortina: Cortina present but very sparse and fugacious, leaving no persistent ring zone.
Odour/taste: Not recorded

Common name: None
Habitat: Myrtaceae forest
Substrate: Solitary to scattered on soil in tea‑tree (Myrtaceae) forest
Distribution: Taupo- Auckland rare
Season: Autumn to early winter
Biostatus: Endemic to New Zealand
Edible: No
Spore print: Not yet obtained
Macro images:
Cortinarius atroviolaceus
Scale bar
PDD 109675    Scale= 12 mm.
 
Cortinarius atroviolaceus
Scale bar
PDD 109675    Scale= 12 mm.
 
Cortinarius atroviolaceus
Scale bar
PDD 109675    Scale= 12 mm.
 
Cortinarius atroviolaceus
Scale bar
PDD 109675    Scale= 10 mm.
 
The Hidden Forest
Forest Fungi