E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Summary:
Subgenus Phlegmacium (Bulbopodium). Cortinarius subolivascens is on one of a number of closely related species in the Cortinarius subolivascens group. Like the Cortinarius glaucopus group, C. subolivascens has a viscid cap that dries cinnamon buff, violaceous gills, and a flanged bulb at the stem base. Other features of C. subolivascens include a deep violaceous gray fresh cap that fades slowly becoming olivaceous gray to pale purplish gray, flesh that is pallid olivaceous gray, a dry stem that is pallid beneath the bluish violet, fibrillose veil remnants, mild odor, growth in spring, and almond-shaped spores.

Cortinarius subolivascens was first described from WA by A.H. Smith. DNA sequencing indicates its presence in BC (E. Harrower, pers. comm. - FJ039631 (35 sp. #4) in Harrower(1)). It is close to the sequenced holotype. Morphological correlation is desirable.

Cap:
(3)4-7.5cm across, flat with downcurved and inrolled margin, becoming broadly convex to nearly flat when old; deep violaceous gray and mottled with watery streaks when fresh, fading slowly: becoming olivaceous gray to pale purplish gray, the disc not fading in some; viscid

Flesh:
pallid olivaceous gray in cap and top of stem, slightly violaceous in the cortex at the top of the stem when young

Gills:
adnate but rounded slightly, crowded, about 125 reaching stem, narrow to moderately broad (0.5-0.7cm); bluish to dull purplish becoming pale cinnamon-brown, not staining when bruised

Stem:
3-5.5cm x 1-2cm at top, equal above marginate bulb, tapered to a point at base; pallid beneath light dull bluish violet fibrils from remains of veil, or light dull bluish violet near top

Veil:
universal veil light dull bluish violet fibrillose

Taste:
not recorded

Microscopic spores:
spores 9-11(12) x 5-6 microns, almond-shaped, rough, dark rusty brown under the microscope; basidia 4-spored

Spore deposit:
[presumably cinnamon brown]