Cortinarius violaceus
Cortinarius violaceus (L. : Fr.) Gray.
Cortinariaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Cap at first convex, then umbonate, 5–14 cm in diameter, dry, velvety fibrillose, dark violet to brown violet. Cortina gossamery, violet, soon falling off. Gills notched, wide, rare, dark violet to rusty violet. Stipe conversely clavate, 6–12 × 1–2 cm, fibrillose, dark violet to brown violet. Flesh violet or grey violet with smell of cedar oil. Spores almond-shaped, 11–14 × 7–9 µm, rusty ochre, verrucose. Fruit-bodies single and in groups. IX–X.
Habitats and populations. On the ground in coniferous (spruce – Picea, pines – Pinus) and humid deciduous forests (birch – Betula, beeches – Fagus).
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – Bistrishko Branishte Strict Nature Reserve), Rila Mts (near Borovets, near Govedartsi – Mokrata Polyana locality, and near Yakoruda – Boukevitsa locality).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss and/or degradation caused by logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are within the borders of Vitosha Nature Park and Bistrishko Branishte Strict Nature Reserve. 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; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006; Assyov et al. 2010.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
