Cortinarius fraudulosus var. patrickensis M.M. Moser 2000                                            *California


Collection: Salt Point State Park, Northern California. Habitat: Red trees, Douglas Fir, Bishop Pine, Tanoak, Manzanita
Moser recognized this California species as a variety of Cortinarius fraudulosus, but genetic data shows that it should be promoted to a species rank. It is closely related to Cortinarius papulosus and quite distant from C. fraudulosus. In California it is moderately common under Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus). In the past it was frequently interpreted as similar to the European C. cliduchus/cephalixus complex.

Photos: R.M. Davis
Spores: slightly verrucose, simple ellipsoid 
9.0-11(13) x 5.2-6.8μ.

This species has distinctly larger spores than its closest relative C. papulosus.

References