Cortinarius rubellus: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:29, 16 February 2025

Cortinarius rubellus[edit]

Cortinarius rubellus, commonly known as the deadly webcap, is a species of fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. It is known for its highly toxic properties, which can cause severe kidney damage if ingested. This species is found in coniferous forests across Europe and parts of North America.

Description[edit]

The fruiting body of Cortinarius rubellus is characterized by its distinctive reddish-brown cap, which can range from 3 to 8 cm in diameter. The cap is initially conical, becoming more convex with age. The surface is dry and fibrous, often with a slight sheen.

The gills are adnate to adnexed, starting out pale yellow and becoming rusty brown as the spores mature. The stipe is cylindrical, measuring 5 to 12 cm in height and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in thickness, with a bulbous base. It is typically the same color as the cap or slightly paler.

Toxicity[edit]

Cortinarius rubellus contains orellanine, a potent nephrotoxin that can cause renal failure if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning may not appear until 2 to 3 days after consumption, making it particularly dangerous. Initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, followed by thirst, headache, and muscle pain. Without treatment, the condition can progress to kidney failure, which may be fatal.

Habitat and Distribution[edit]

This species is typically found in coniferous and mixed forests, often in association with pine and spruce trees. It prefers acidic soils and is most commonly encountered in the autumn months. Cortinarius rubellus is distributed throughout Europe, with notable populations in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and parts of North America.

Similar Species[edit]

Cortinarius rubellus can be confused with other members of the Cortinarius genus, such as Cortinarius orellanus, which is also highly toxic. Both species share similar morphological features, but Cortinarius orellanus typically has a more orange hue and lacks the fibrous cap texture of Cortinarius rubellus.

Related Pages[edit]

Lua error: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Cortinarius rubellus''', commonly known as the [[Deadly Webcap]], is a highly toxic mushroom belonging to the large genus ''[[Cortinarius]]''. This species is found predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe and North America, within coniferous and mixed forests. It is notorious for containing the potent toxin orellanine, which can cause severe kidney damage and, in some cases, fatal outcomes if ingested.
+== Cortinarius rubellus ==
-==Description==
+[[File:Cortinarius_rubellus_01.jpg|thumb|right|Cortinarius rubellus]]
-''Cortinarius rubellus'' features a cap that ranges from 3 to 8 cm in diameter, initially convex before flattening out with age, often with a slight umbo. The cap's color is typically a rusty brown or reddish-brown, sometimes with a more orange hue. The gills are crowded, initially light in color before turning a rusty brown as the spores mature. The stipe (stem) is slender, measuring 4 to 10 cm in height and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in thickness, with a similar coloration to the cap but often paler. A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of a cortina (a web-like veil) in young specimens, which disintegrates with age, leaving a ring zone on the stipe.
-==Toxicity==
+'''Cortinarius rubellus''', commonly known as the '''deadly webcap''', is a species of [[fungus]] in the family [[Cortinariaceae]]. It is known for its highly toxic properties, which can cause severe [[kidney]] damage if ingested. This species is found in [[coniferous]] forests across [[Europe]] and parts of [[North America]].
-The primary toxin present in ''Cortinarius rubellus'' is orellanine, which is a nephrotoxin that specifically targets the kidneys. Symptoms of orellanine poisoning may not appear until 2 to 3 days after ingestion, or in some cases, up to three weeks. Initial symptoms include flu-like feelings such as headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and thirst, followed by more severe signs of kidney impairment like decreased urine output and pain in the kidney area. Without prompt and appropriate treatment, ingestion can lead to acute kidney failure and may require dialysis or even lead to death.
-==Distribution and Habitat==
+== Description ==
-''Cortinarius rubellus'' is primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere, thriving in acidic soils of coniferous and mixed woodlands. It forms mycorrhizal relationships with various tree species, aiding in nutrient exchange. This mushroom is most commonly encountered from late summer to late autumn.
-==Similar Species==
+The fruiting body of ''Cortinarius rubellus'' is characterized by its distinctive reddish-brown [[cap (mushroom)|cap]], which can range from 3 to 8 cm in diameter. The cap is initially conical, becoming more convex with age. The surface is dry and fibrous, often with a slight sheen.
-It can be easily confused with other members of the ''Cortinarius'' genus, some of which are also toxic. Notably, it resembles ''Cortinarius speciosissimus'', another deadly species, and could be mistaken for edible varieties such as ''Cortinarius caperatus'' (the Gypsy mushroom). Proper identification by an expert is crucial before any wild mushroom is consumed.
-==Conservation==
+The [[gills]] are adnate to adnexed, starting out pale yellow and becoming rusty brown as the [[spores]] mature. The [[stipe (mycology)|stipe]] is cylindrical, measuring 5 to 12 cm in height and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in thickness, with a bulbous base. It is typically the same color as the cap or slightly paler.
-While not considered globally endangered, the population dynamics of ''Cortinarius rubellus'' are not well understood, and its presence can indicate the health of forest ecosystems. Conservation efforts focus on preserving its natural habitat and educating the public about the risks of foraging wild mushrooms without proper knowledge.
-==See Also==
+== Toxicity ==
+''Cortinarius rubellus'' contains [[orellanine]], a potent [[nephrotoxin]] that can cause [[renal failure]] if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning may not appear until 2 to 3 days after consumption, making it particularly dangerous. Initial symptoms include [[nausea]], [[vomiting]], and [[abdominal pain]], followed by [[thirst]], [[headache]], and [[muscle pain]]. Without treatment, the condition can progress to [[kidney failure]], which may be fatal.
+== Habitat and Distribution ==
+This species is typically found in [[coniferous]] and [[mixed forests]], often in association with [[pine]] and [[spruce]] trees. It prefers acidic soils and is most commonly encountered in the autumn months. ''Cortinarius rubellus'' is distributed throughout [[Europe]], with notable populations in [[Scandinavia]], the [[United Kingdom]], and parts of [[North America]].
+== Similar Species ==
+''Cortinarius rubellus'' can be confused with other members of the [[Cortinarius]] genus, such as ''[[Cortinarius orellanus]]'', which is also highly toxic. Both species share similar morphological features, but ''Cortinarius orellanus'' typically has a more orange hue and lacks the fibrous cap texture of ''Cortinarius rubellus''.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Cortinarius orellanus]]
 * [[Mushroom poisoning]]
-* [[Mycorrhiza]]
+* [[Nephrotoxicity]]
-* [[Nephrotoxin]]
+* [[Fungal biology]]
+{{Portal|Fungi}}
+{{Taxonbar|from=Q134282}}
-[[Category:Fungi]]
+[[Category:Cortinarius|rubellus]]
 [[Category:Poisonous fungi]]
-[[Category:Cortinarius]]
+[[Category:Fungi of Europe]]
-{{Mycomorphbox | name = ''Cortinarius rubellus'' | whichGills = adnate | capShape = convex | hymeniumType=gills | stipeCharacter=ring | ecologicalType=mycorrhizal | sporePrintColor=rusty-brown | howEdible=deadly }}
+[[Category:Fungi of North America]]
-{{Fungi-stub}}