Violet webcap or Goatcheese webcap

Cap 5-15 cm across, hemispherical with an inrolled margin in young mushrooms, later becoming convex-flat with a low umbo. Color deep violet, inky purple, almost black in the center. Surface velvety-scaly, with fine violet-inky scales — a hallmark of the species. In damp weather it looks matte and velvety.

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.

Gills — attached to the stem, moderately spaced, deep violet, darkening with age to purple-black, then to rusty brown as the spore powder ripens. Spore print rusty brown. In young mushrooms the gills are covered by a cobweb-like partial veil (cortina) with a purple tint.

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.

Stem 8-12 cm tall, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, cylindrical, thick and fleshy, with a bulbous swelling at the base. Color deep violet, matching the cap, paler toward the base. The surface has fine violet fibers. Remnants of the cobwebby cortina on the stem — purple in young mushrooms, covered in rusty-brown spores in old ones.

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.

Flesh firm, violet in young mushrooms, turning gray-violet to brownish with age. When cut, it does not change color. Smell faint, mushroomy; in some populations with a hint of cedar.

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.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with a subtle resinous or cedar note in some populations.

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.