Thaxterogaster causticus

Thaxterogaster causticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Cortinariaceae
Genus: Thaxterogaster
Species:
T. causticus
Binomial name
Thaxterogaster causticus
(Fr.) Niskanen & Liimat.
Synonyms

Cortinarius causticus Fr.

Thaxterogaster causticus
Mycological characteristics
Gills on hymenium
Cap is conical or umbonate
Hymenium is adnexed
Stipe has a cortina
Spore print is reddish-brown
Ecology is mycorrhizal
Edibility is unknown

Thaxterogaster causticus, formerly known as Cortinarius causticus[1] and commonly known as the caustic webcap,[2] is a species of mushroom in the family Cortinariaceae.

Description

The orange,[2] hygrophanous[3] cap of Thaxterogaster causticus is about 1.5-4.5 centimeters in diameter. It starts out conical and usually becomes umbonate in age.[2] The gills start out creamy or white-colored, before becoming brown as the mushroom gets older.[4] They are adnexed and often notched.[2] The stipe is about 3.5-7 centimeters long and 3-6 centimeters wide. It is white and bruises yellow.[4] The spore print is rusty brown.[2] Both the cap and stipe of this mushroom are slimy.[3] There are several similar species, including T. vibratilis, which is found in Europe.[2]

Habitat and ecology

Thaxterogaster causticus grows under conifers, such as pine,[3] hemlock, and fir.[2] It is found in coniferous forests[3] in the Pacific Northwest.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Index Fungorum - Names Record". www.indexfungorum.org. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (September 1, 2024). Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest. Humboldt County, CA: Backcountry Press. p. 210. ISBN 978-1-941624-19-7.
  3. ^ a b c d Trudell, Steve (October 25, 2022) [January 1, 2009]. Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest (Revised ed.). Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 182–184. ISBN 978-1-64326-086-0.
  4. ^ a b Adams, Shannon (January 19, 2021). "Cortinarius causticus". North American Cortinarius Collections. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-11.