Yellow Webcap

Yellow Webcap Cortinarius (Myxacium) delibutus Fr. (illustrated 40% life size) Cap 3–9cm across, convex then expanded, sometimes slightly umbonate; yellow with brighter centre or even tinged tawny-buff; very viscid. Stem 50–100×7–15mm, slightly swollen at base; white, tinged yellow by the viscid veil from base up to cortinal zone, apex pale lilac; base covered in white down. Flesh whitish in stem, yellowish in cap, tinged violaceous throughout in young specimens and often persisting at stem apex; taste mild, often with a bitter aftertaste, smell faintly of radish. Gills adnate to free; violaceous at first, soon yellowish to clay or cinnamon. Spores 7–8.5×6.5–7.5¼, broadly ovate to subglobose, roughened. Spore print rust. Habitat in deciduous woods, usually with beech or birch; autumn. Occasional. Unknown edibility. Note this rather slender collection might possibly be C. subdelibutus of Orton.