Cortinaria castorius

This handsome toadstool was growing in the Hunua ranges, June 2005.

The essence of Cortinaria fungi is the veil, which is a thin membrane covering the gills, running from the edge of the cap to the stem of the mushroom. As the mushroom enlarges, the veil is stretched and broken, leaving filmy remnants. Around the stem is a residual ring and around the edge of the cap are fine fragments, which are stained brown by the spores. The cortina is the stringy brown bits around the gills.

Image showing the cortina on a picked fungus laid in moss, while in the background are mature toadstools, showing the ring on the stem. (Note: image stacking used for increased depth of field, which is limited in macro photography)

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