Imperial Webcap
Cortinarius purpureus · Family Cortinariaceae · Updated October 2026
59US records
17states
Octbusiest month
59 US records since 1902 (10 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Aug 16, 2025 (about 14 months ago) near Norton, Wise County, VA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from Washington, California and Oregon, and the busiest months are Oct, Nov and Aug. (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, Nov, Aug.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Sonoma County, CA (4) · latest Jan 14, 2024
- Tillamook County, OR (4) · latest Oct 29, 2005
- San Mateo County, CA (3) · latest Feb 3, 1997
- Clallam County, WA (3) · latest Oct 6, 1995
- Alachua County, FL (2) · latest Aug 18, 1958
- Sussex County, NJ (2) · latest Sep 4, 2021
- Mason County, WA (2) · latest Nov 9, 2020
- Marin County, CA (2) · latest Jan 26, 2025
- Boulder County, CO (2) · latest Jul 30, 2004
- King County, WA (2) · latest Oct 24, 1981
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
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.