Cortinarius archeri Berk.

Common name: None.

Description: The caps commonly reach 8 cm in diameter, but larger caps may occasionally be found; they are at first convex, but they become somewhat irregular and folded as they reach maturity. The surface is deep violet and very glutinous when young and fresh, but older caps become brownish and are often dry in less humid conditions. The adnate gills are brown with a violet tint; they are initially protected by a slimy, skin-like cortina. The stem is usually 68 cm long and 12 cm thick. The cortina remnants form a glutinous ring about half-way down the stem. The stem below the ring is bright, deep violet and glutinous; above the ring it is dry with a pale lilac tint. The stem is often swollen at the base.

The spores measure 11.513 × 6.58 µm and are ellipsoidal, finely verrucose and brown; the spore print is brown.

Substratum: Cortinarius archeri occurs directly on soil among litter. It is usually solitary but may occur in twos or threes. The species is mycorrhizal on the roots of eucalypts (or closely related trees) and is to be found in either eucalypt forests or mixed rainforests.

Distribution: Known from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Notes: Cortinarius archeri is always a spectacular find, and the enormous, gluten-covered violet caps with the delicate lilacs of the stem make this an extremely beautiful species.