Cortinarius subgenus Phlegmacium section Phlegmacium in Europe. Descriptive part

Abstract

The taxonomy of Cortinarius subgen. Phlegmacium sect. Phlegmacium in Europe is emended to include 17 species, classified in three subsections: Subsect. Triumphantes: C. saginus (= C. subvalidus), C. triumphant (= C crocolitus), C. varius (here neotypified), C. variiformis (= C. luteocingulatus), C. tiliae sp. nov., C. pini sp. nov. and C. norrlandicus; Subsect. Arguti: C. argutus (here neotypified), C fraudulosus var. fraudulosus, C. fraudulosus var. rosargutus comb. nov., C. paracephalixus (= C. rioussetiae) and C. herculeus; Subsect. Vulpini: C. vulpinus (= C. rufoalbus, C. fluryi), C. pseudovulpinus, C. maculosus, C. caligatus (= C. crustulinus) and C. aremoricus. Species descriptions are provided, with emphasis on formerly little studied micromorphological characters. Most species are well delimitated and normally easily distinguished from closely related taxa. Their diagnostic characters are presented. The circumscription of a number of the species deviates from the one most frequently used, and many taxa are synonymized. Altogether, 18 species names which have been in use after 1900 are reduced to synonyms. The delimitation of the section towards the neighbouring sect. Phlegmacioides (= Variecolores) is discussed, as well as the typification of the name Phlegmacium.