Cortinariaceae

The Cortinariaceae are a large family of gilled mushrooms found worldwide, containing over 2100 species. The family takes its name from its largest genus, the varied species of the genus Cortinarius. Many genera formerly in the Corinariaceae have been placed in various other families, including Hymenogastraceae, Inocybaceae and Bolbitiaceae. The deadly toxin orellanine has been found in at least 34 Cortinariaceae. This is a family of mushrooms which has a hymenium on gills, a pileipellis whichis a cutis, and spores which are brown in deposit. For most genera in this family, the spores will also be ornamented. Cortinarius are mushrooms with warted spores, which are rusty-brown in deposit. Mushrooms in this genus have a partial veil which is a cortina. These mushrooms are terrestrial and mycorrhizal, and can range from small to large and fleshy.