Cortinarius austrovenetus

Cortinarius austrovenetus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Subclass:	Homobasidiomycetidae
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Cortinariaceae
Genus:	Cortinarius
Species:	C. austrovenetus
Binomial name
Cortinarius austrovenetus Cleland
Synonyms
Dermocybe austroveneta (Cleland) M.M.Moser & E.Horak

Cortinarius austrovenetus
Mycological characteristics
	gills on hymenium
	cap is convex
	hymenium is adnate
	stipe has a cortina
	spore print is brown
	ecology is mycorrhizal
	edibility: unknown

Cortinarius austrovenetus, alternately known as Dermocybe austroveneta and commonly known as the Green Skin-head, is an inedible brightly coloured green gilled fungus which naturally occurs in south eastern Australia.

Taxonomy

Initially described as Cortinarius austrovenetus by Australian naturalist John Burton Cleland in 1928, this mushroom along with many other members of the group was separated from the huge genus Cortinarius, and placed in the newer genus Dermocybe, commonly called Skin-heads, derived from the meaning of their scientific names. However, this genus is often treated as a subgenus of Cortinarius only.

Description

The fruiting bodies of Cortinarius austrovenetus are smooth with a convex or flat cap which can be up to 16 centimetres (6 in) across.The pigment has been isolated and described as Austrovenetin.^[1] They have yellowy brown; adnate gills underneath the cap. Like all members of the Cortinariaceae family this mushroom has a thin web-like veil (the cortina) protecting the gills in the early stages of growth. Remnants of this veil may be seen (often quite fleetingly) on the mature stem.

Distribution and habitat

Occurring particularly in Victoria and Tasmania and typically in eucalypt forests or woodlands. It may exist in some numbers in New South Wales, South Australia and other eastern Australian states but little research has been conducted. [1]

Edibility

The edibility of this mushroom is unknown, and it should be avoided, as some of its close relatives contain lethal toxins.

References

1. ^ Gill M, Gimenez A (1991) Austrovenetin, the principal pigment of the toadstool Dermocybe austroveneta. Phytochemistry 30 951-955

• http://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/images-captions/dermocybe-austroveneta-0304.html