Summary:
Subgenus Myxacium. The Arora group includes C. ''trivialis'' and C. mucifluus, and is recognized by slimy-viscid, yellow brown to orange brown cap and belted or scaly, viscid, whitish or violet-tinged stem. It would presumably also include Cortinarius glutinosoarmillatus, described in 2017. The description of the group derived from Arora. Cortinarius mucosus and C. favrei are closely related species without belts. Other similar or closely related species include C. muscigenus and C. brunneoalbus. There is lack of clarity about which members occur in the Pacific Northwest, but C. muscigenus may be the most common. Bendiksen et al however assert that Cortinarius cylindripes Kauffman and Cortinarius muscigenus Peck are both synonyms of Cortinarius collinitus (Sow.: Fr.) S.F. Gray ss. J.E. Lange, a frequent species in European spruce forests.

Cap:
3-10cm across, bell-shaped or convex becoming broadly umbonate to flat; variable color: yellowish to yellow-orange, orange-brown, tawny, ocher, fulvous, or even reddish brown: the margin often paler or yellower (or in one form bluish violet); smooth, slimy or viscid, margin sometimes striate

Flesh:
firm; whitish to yellowish buff, (Arora), may have a touch of violet in some group members

Gills:
adnate to adnexed or notched; "pallid or pale grayish (or violet-tinged in one form) when young", becoming brown and finally rusty brown when old

Stem:
5-15cm x 0.5-2cm, equal or narrowing downwards, usually rooting somewhat in humus; usually whitish above, and lower part breaking up into irregular whitish, yellowish, ocher, and/or rusty brown (or in one form violet or bluish violet) bands, patches or scaly rings (but these sometimes obscure); viscid or slimy when moist

Veil:
universal veil fibrillose beneath slime layer, leaving bands or patches on stem; cortina pallid, usually forming a ring of hairs near top of stem

Microscopic spores:
spores 10-15 x 6-8.5 microns, elliptic, rough

Spore deposit:
rusty brown

Notes:
A 2008 collection from BC designated Cortinarius collinitus (Pers.)Fr. is at the University of British Columbia.

EDIBILITY

not well tested