Cortinarius coerulescens
Cortinarius coerulescens (Schaeff. : Fr.) Fr.
Cortinariaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Cap semi-globose to flatened, 5–8 cm in diameter, viscid, fibrillose, dark blue, blue-violet to ochre. Cortina bluish. Gills notched, light blue, blue-violet to brown, rusty brown in mature specimens. Stipe conversely clavate, bulb-shaped and whitish at base, 4–6 × 1.2–2.5 cm, up to 4 cm wide at the base, blue or blue violet. Flesh bluish or greyish. Spores almond-shaped, 8–11 × 4.8–6.5 µm, rusty brown, finely verrucose. Fruit-bodies single and in groups. IX–X.
Habitats and populations. On limy soils in deciduous (beech – Fagus, oak – Quercus) and mixed spruce forests.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western), Sofia Region, Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Sredna Gora Mts (Western – Lozenska Mt), Rhodopi Mts (Eastern).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America, N Africa.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires, acid rains.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. One of the known localities is situated within the borders of Vitosha Nature Park. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Hinkova 1955a, 1965; Hinkova & Fakirova 1970; Hinkova et al. 1979; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
