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doi:10.1016/j.fl dmyc.2021.04.011 10
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As access to DNA sequencing becomes
easier and more frequent, we are now
able to get closer to some of those more
difficult collections belonging to challenging
genera, such as Cortinarius (especially subgenus
Telemonia) (see Henrici FM Vol. 21(4): 147).
However, this is not always an easy, clear-cut
journey, it is quite often the very opposite.
A collection was made of an interesting
Cortinarius under oaks in Fairlight, E. Sussex
(Fig. 1) provisionally identified by me as C. palli-
dostriatoides, and arrangements made for it to be
sequenced. I hoped to confirm my identification
based on the resulting DNA sequence.
Unfortunately, one is beholden to the informa-
tion held on databases such as Genbank and
Unite, the two big ‘data banks’ that hold DNA of
the world’s fungi. I say ‘unfortunately’ in that not
all of this data is as accurate and helpful as you
may wish it to be, so a certain amount of filtering
has to be done to arrive at a satisfactory conclu-
sion. Interpretation of the sequence is key. Many
authors will only regard an identification as
‘safe’ if it matches the sequence of the type speci-
men by 99.5% or greater in its ITS region. As a
result we may well hit a dead end, due to lacking
or inconclusive information held on the databases
but sometimes it all falls into place and this was
one such result. However, this result was not
obtained via Genbank or Unite but via the exten-
sive Cortinarius database held by Kare
Liimatainen, Cortinarius expert and a former
DNA Curator at Kew.
Initially, the sequence was run through
Genbank but came back with inconclusive
matches. It wasn’t until I contacted Kare with the
sequence and an in-situ picture of the fruitbody
that I very quickly got a name for this collection:
C. vicinus Bidaud et al. Kare had a sequence from
an isotype to which my sequence was a match.
[Isotype: a duplicate or part of the type collection
other than the part on which the type description
was based - Ed.] The sequence for the type speci-
men of C. vicinus is currently not placed on
Genbank or Unite.
Cortinarius vicinus
new to Britain
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Bidaud et al., (1994), based upon a single
collection, published Cortinarius vicinus but
unfortunately invalidly, as they only presented it
as "ad int", i.e. a provisional name. Subsequent
collections in Italy by Bidaud et al.(2005),
enabled them to then publish it correctly.
Based on these new collections they were able
to confirm its position within the lineage
Pallidostriatus in section Obtusi, due to the
rather long, white, tapered stem, mottled by
white veil and strong odour in the stem flesh.
This sectional placement of C. vicinus is
currently under review by Liimatainen as the
phylogenetic placement of the Obtusi excludes
them from the remainder of subgenus Telamonia
(Liimatainen et al., 2020).
Cortinarius vicinus is a small to medium-sized
species and is very similar to C. obtusus and
C. pallidostriatoides. The original description
describes it as being somewhat larger than these
two species, with more red tones in the cap,
strongly striate after dehydration, the entire
length of the stem covered by white veil and a
strong radish smell at the stem base. Other texts
mention an iodoform smell (my collection had the
latter). Its spores were stated to differ also in
being ellipsoid, measuring 7.3–8.1 x 4.9–5.5 µm.
Bidaut et al. (1994), in their taxonomic notes,
make mention of very septate, clavate cells which
occur in tufts on the gill edges.
It is known to be fairly widespread in Italy, in
lowland woods of deciduous oaks, pure or mixed
with stone pine. Gregarious from late autumn
into winter.
Current distribution
So far it has been recorded from Italy, Norway,
Finland and now Britain. A collection from Italy
in 2006 can be viewed online at
http://www.ambmuggia.it/forum/topic/4509-corti-
narius-vicinus/ showing in-situ pictures of fruit-
bodies, practically identical to those in my
picture.
Details of the illustrated collection
Found on 26 October 2020 in a tight group on
clay/sand soil in short mossy grass, 5 metres from
Quercus robur tree-lined boundary, 1–2 metres
from Tricholoma quercetorum (see FM 21(1):
18–21), close to human habitation.
Cap 24–50 mm, convex, broadly umbonate, rich
toffee brown, smooth, matt, often with a fine
white bloom upon drying (seen in picture.).
Margin striate, with white velar remnants.
Strongly hygrophanous. Gills cinnamon brown,
moderately spaced, adnate-notched or with
decurrent tooth. Edge white when young becom-
ing less so with maturity. Stem 60–65 x 6–8mm,
cylindrical, white-cream, surface discolouring
salmon-flesh upon handling. Faint iodoform
odour in stem base. Flesh white-cream,
discolouring salmon-flesh when cut in section
especially in the cap and stem edges. Odour
faintly of iodoform in the stem base. Taste mild.
Spores (Fig. 2) ellipsoid, moderately verrucose,
7.3–8.5 (9.1) x 4.7–5.3 µm (average from 30
spores = 7.4 x 4.7 µm)
Acknowledgements
Translation of original description kindly carried
out by Piermario Maculan. The PCR work was
kindly carried out by Nick Aplin and sequencing
was done at the Institute of Biological,
Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) of the
University of Aberystwyth
References
Bidaud, G. et al. (1994). XIèmes Journees
Europeennes du Cortinaire St-Brevin-les-
Pins (Loire-Atlantique). Etúde de quelques
récoltes critiques. Docums Mycol. 24(no. 94):
81.
Bidaut, G. et al. (2005). in: Il Genere
Cortinarius in Italia 3: C185.
Henrici, A. (2020). Notes and Records.
Field Mycology Vol 21(4): 147.
Liimatainen, K. et al. (2020). Mission
impossible completed: unlocking the
nomenclature of the largest and most
complicated subgenus of Cortinarius,
Telamonia. Fungal Diversity 104(2): 291–
331.
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