I am specially interested in the genus Cortinarius and related genera. Cortinarius is the largest genus of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes. More than 500 species are recorded in Norway, and more than 2000 species on the world scale. In boreal coniferous forests Cortinarius spp. They may therefore be of great importance for the trees in these forests.
Some species are sensitive towards man made pollutions, other tolerant.
They can therefore be used in monitoring the environment. A couple of species, i.e. Cortinarius rubellus and C. orellanus, contains the extremely toxic substance orellanine. Other Cortinarius species contain vividly coloured pigments, e.g. anthraquinones. Ectomycorrhiza in boreal and arctic-alpine ecosystems. Especially the basidiomycetous ectomycorrhiza formed by arctic-alpine plants as Salix herbacea, Salix polaris, Dryas octopetala, and Bistorta vivipara is of interest.