Cortinarius orellanus - Паутинник горный - Fool's Webcap

Cortinarius orellanus - Паутинник горный - Fool's Webcap - Grüner Knollenblätterpilz 9/2-30/17

Cortinarius orellanus, also known as the fool's webcap, is a basidiomycete fungus that is widely distributed in mountainous regions of Europe. This mushroom is mycorrhizal, meaning that it forms a mutually beneficial relationship with trees and other plants. The cap of C. orellanus ranges from 5-15cm in diameter and is convex to flat, with a smooth and sometimes sticky surface. Its stem is usually about 5-10cm long and is tough and fibrous. The stem and flesh of this mushroom often exhibit a green staining reaction when handled or cut. The gills are initially pale yellowish-white, but become rusty brown as the mushroom matures. The spore print of C. orellanus is rusty brown, and the spores themselves are elliptical and ornamented with small bumps, typically measuring 8-10µm in length. Chemically, C. orellanus contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including amatoxins, which are highly toxic to humans. Ingestion of even a small amount of this mushroom can cause severe liver damage or death. C. orellanus is often found growing in mountainous forests, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including coniferous and deciduous forests. It is distributed throughout Europe. In addition to its ecological importance, C. orellanus is also of interest to toxicologists due to its extreme toxicity to humans. This mushroom has been responsible for numerous cases of mushroom poisoning, and is considered one of the deadliest mushrooms in the world. Interestingly, some research has suggested that C. orellanus may have potential uses in cancer therapy due to its ability to induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. Overall, Cortinarius orellanus is a fascinating but deadly fungus with important implications for human health and toxicology. It should never be consumed by humans, and should be handled with extreme caution by those with proper training.