Goatcheese webcap or Red banded webcap

The cap is 4-9 cm across, hemispherical to conical-convex in young mushrooms, becoming convex-flat with a noticeable low umbo over time. The color is grayish-lilac, lilac-brown, with a violet tint when young, fading to grayish-ochre with age. The surface is smooth, slightly slimy in wet weather. The cap margin is thin, with fine radial fibers.

Cap 5-12 cm across, hemispherical with an inrolled margin in young mushrooms, later becoming convex with a low umbo. Color red-brown, brick, russet-brown, with a pinkish tint when young. Surface velvety and dryish, with fine radial fibers. The cap margin is thin, with pinkish veil remnants in young mushrooms.

The hymenophore is gilled — the gills are attached to the stem and moderately crowded. In young mushrooms they are lilac, mauve-gray, later turning rusty brown as the spores ripen. The spore print is rusty brown — a diagnostic feature of the genus Cortinarius. In young mushrooms the gills are covered by a cobwebby partial veil (the cortina) — a characteristic feature of the genus.

Gills — attached to the stem, moderately spaced. In young mushrooms light pinkish brown, becoming with age rusty brown, dark brick as the spore powder ripens. Spore print rusty brown. In young mushrooms the gills are covered by a cobweb-like partial veil (cortina).

The stem is 5-10 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, with a bulbous swelling at the base. The color is lilac to violet in the upper part, paler to whitish lower down. The surface has fine lilac fibers. On the stem, remnants of the cobwebby cortina — noticeable in young mushrooms, disappearing in older ones and leaving a thin band of rusty-brown spores on the stem.

Stem 8-15 cm tall, 1-2.5 cm thick, cylindrical, long, thickened toward the base. Color brownish cream, with 2-4 distinct red-orange ring-like "bracelet" bands on the lower half — the diagnostic feature of the species. The surface has fine lengthwise fibers. Near the top there is a faint band left by the cobwebby cortina.

The flesh is firm, white to pale lilac. When cut it does not change color. The smell is strong and sickly, camphor-like, with a note of raw potato or rancid cheese — its most characteristic diagnostic feature. The taste is mild, but given the smell it's not worth trying.

Flesh firm, brownish cream. When cut, it does not change color. Smell faint; in some populations with a hint of radish.

Strong sickly camphor-and-potato smell, with a note of rancid cheese or a damp cellar. You can catch it from a distance. It opens up when you rub the flesh. This is the most reliable diagnostic feature of the species — few other webcaps have such a pungent smell.

Faint and neutral; in some populations with a subtle radish or resinous note.