Cortinarius velatus is a medium-sized mushroom with a short, stout stature, a lilac to lavender cap, a thick, persistent veil, and rusty spores. Typically buried or growing under duff forming ectomycorhizal associations with conifers. Rarely reported; known from 12 collections and observations, only two of which were made prior to 1975. It is known from the central and southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA, in high elevation Lodgepole Pine and fir (Abies spp.) forests.  Given its distribution and the fact that 9 of the 12 accepted reports of occurrence are from 2020 or later, the species is likely uncommon but not extremely rare.  It could occur in 500 -1000 additional sites, each with up 10-15 mature individuals for a total estimated population size of 5,000-15,000, all in one subpopulation. Past and ongoing decline in habitat area and quality likely is having a negative impact on its population size.  It is conservatively assessed as Vulnerable.

Described from a collection made at Huntington Lake, in Sierra National Forest, California, USA (Thiers & Smith 1969). There is at least one similar (and apparently rare) undescribed species C. velatus has been mistaken for. Work on western North American ‘velate’ Cortinarius is underway, which should clarify names.

Cortinarius velatus is a medium-sized mushroom with a short, stout stature, a lilac to lavender cap, a thick, persistent veil, and rusty spores. Typically buried or growing under duff. Very rare; known from three collections, two of which were made prior to 1975. It is known from the central and southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA, in high elevation Lodgepole Pine and fir (Abies spp.) forests.

Cortinarius velatus is known only from 12 reports, all from high elevation forests in the southern and central Sierra Nevada in California.

Rare, occurring in high elevation Sierra Nevada forests. Currently known from two historic collections and 10 more recent collection and observations (Siegel et al. 2019, mycoportal.org, inaturalist.org, both queried December 2024). Also reported (but apparently not collected) from an additional site (Thiers & Smith 1969). While more data are needed to identify the factors constituting suitable habitat for this species and refine population estimates and trends its scattered distribution along the Sierra Nevada Mountains indicated that it likely is not critically endangered.  Given its distribution and the fact that 9 of the 12 accepted reports of occurrence are from 2020 or later, the species is likely uncommon but not extremely rare.  It could occur in 500 -1000 additional sites, each with up 10-15 mature individuals for a total estimated population size of 5,000-15,000, all in one subpopulation. Past and ongoing decline in habitat area and quality likely is having a negative impact on its population size.

Scattered or in small clusters, typically buried in duff, rarely breaking through the soil surface. Ectomycorrhizal with conifers, but exact host associations unknown. The most recent collection was in Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana) and Red Fir (Abies magnifica) forest. Fruiting in summer and fall.

Too little is known regarding this species’ habitat preferences to fullly assess possible threats. But the habitat it occurs in has endured prolonged droughts, and decades of fire suppression have drastically altered western montane forests, leading to thicker, denser, Abies dominated forests. As a result, hotter, stand replacing fires (rather than patchwork and understory burns) are commonplace, altering appropriate habitat drastically, and making it ill-suited for this species.

Protect known populations from logging, development and other disturbance. Manage sites to reduce fire intensity.

Surveys for additional populations of this species are needed better understand and describe its distribution, habitat preferences, and population size and trends.

None known.

inaturalist.org (Dec. 2024)

mycoportal.org (Dec. 2024)

Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. and Ikeda, D. 2019. A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California’s National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p.

Thiers, H.D. and Smith, A.H. 1969. Hypogeous Cortinarii. Mycologia 61: 526–536.