Cortinarius brunneus
Family Cortinariaceae · Updated October 2026
56US records
14states
Octbusiest month
56 US records since 1916 (4 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Aug 12, 2023 (about 3 years ago) near Ward, Boulder County, CO, a preserved specimen in Denver Botanic Gardens, Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi. Most US records come from Washington, Wyoming and Colorado, and the busiest months are Oct, Aug and Nov. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
☠ Dangerous genus. The genus Cortinarius includes webcaps containing orellanine. Mushrooms in this group have caused serious or fatal poisonings.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Oct, Aug, Nov.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Clallam County, WA (16) · latest Nov 7, 2000
- Teton County, WY (4) · latest Aug 5, 1999
- Grays Harbor County, WA (4) · latest Nov 4, 1999
- Mendocino County, CA (2) · latest Nov 26, 2011
- Skagit County, WA (2) · latest Sep 6, 1989
- Whatcom County, WA (2) · latest Oct 11, 1969
- Anchorage Municipality, AK (2) · latest Aug 25, 2018
- Snohomish County, WA (2) · latest Oct 28, 1944
- Coos County, OR (2) · latest Nov 17, 1989
- Summit County, UT (1) · latest Sep 7, 2019
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
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Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.