Cortinarius austrovenetus
Cortinarius austrovenetus, alternately known as Dermocybe austroveneta and commonly known as the green skin-head but also known as green dermocybe is an inedible brightly coloured green gilled fungus that naturally occurs in south eastern Australia. Taxonomy. Initially described as "Cortinarius austrovenetus" by Australian naturalist John Burton Cleland in 1928, this mushroom along with many other members of the group was separated from the huge genus "Cortinarius", and placed in the newer genus "Dermocybe", commonly called skin-heads, derived from the meaning of their scientific names. However, this genus is often treated as a subgenus of "Cortinarius" only . In 2007, Bruno Gasparini suggested that "C. austrovenetus" is the same species as another "Cortinarius" in subgenus "Dermocybe", "C. walkerae". If this is true, "C. austrovenetus" is a later synonym and the name C. walkerae would take precedence. Description. The fruit bodies of "Cortinarius austrovenetus" are smooth with a convex or flat cap that can be up to across. The pigment has been isolated and described as austrovenetin. They have yellowy brown; adnate gills underneath the cap. Like most members of the family Cortinariaceae this mushroom has a thin web-like veil (the cortina) protecting the gills in the early  stages of growth. Remnants of this veil may be seen (often quite fleetingly) on the mature stipe. Distribution and habitat. Occurring particularly in Victoria and Tasmania and typically in eucalypt forests or woodlands. It may exist in some numbers in New South Wales, South Australia and other eastern Australian states but little research has been conducted. Edibility. The edibility of this mushroom is unknown, and it should be avoided, as some of its close relatives contain lethal toxins.