Cortinarius albofragrans
Sydowia 49(1): 27. 1997.
Common Name: none
Synonym: Phlegmacium albofragrans (Ammirati & M.M. Moser) Niskanen & Liimat.
Misapplied name: Cortinarius luteoarmillatus A.H. Sm.
For description see Moser & Ammirati & 'California Mushrooms'.
Solitary to scattered under live oaks (Quercus agrifolia and Quercus chrysolepis) and tanbark oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus); uncommon north of the San Francisco Bay area, common in southern California; fruiting from fall through winter.
Unknown.
Cortinarius albofragrans can be recognized by a smooth, viscid, white to cream-buff or tan cap, pinkish buff young context tissues, and a strong, fragrant, citrus-like odor. Cortinarius albofragrans, described from Del Norte Co, has been misidentified as C. luteoarmillatus, a species from eastern North America with smaller spores and a less fragrant odor. Cortinarius percomis emits a similar odor but has a bright yellow cap, yellow young gills, a yellow stipe, yellow context tissues, and is associated with conifers.
If you choose to accept the recent division of Cortinarius into 10 genera, the correct name for this taxon is Phlegmacium albofragrans (see Liimatainen et al.)
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Liimatainen, K., Kim, J.T., Pokorny, L., Kirk, P.M., Dentinger, B. & Niskanen, T. (2022). Taming the beast: a revised classification of Cortinariaceae based on genomic data. Fungal Diversity. (PDF)
Moser, M. & Ammirati, J.F. (1997). Studies on North American Cortinarii IV. New and interesting Cortinarius species (subgenus Phlegmacium) from oak forests in Northern California. Sydowia 49(1): 25-48. (PDF-Protologue)
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
