Peter Orton was the British expert on Cortinarius for half a century, inheriting the mantle (and much unpublished material) from A.A. Pearson. This work is based on their joint experience. It was planned as three parts, but only two were ever completed.

Vol 1 provides a comparatively full coverage of the viscid capped Cortinarius, subgenera: Myxacium and Phlegmacium. Phlegmacium includes some of our most beautiful and striking toadstools, although many are restricted to calcareous woodland and found only rarely which makes them difficult to get to know.

The work begins with a short introduction, followed by the keys. First a key to subgenera, followed by the key to species. Next follows the Summary of Classication, breaking the species into small manageable groups. The main portion of the work, beginning on page 20, is a tabulation of the species with their descriptions spread over nine columns (cap, gills, stem, flesh, taste and smell, spores, gill edge and chemical reactions, habitat, observations). This is followed by the final pages of the Summary of Classication and a lengthy Index and Notes section which contains many useful notes.

Despite its age, this is still a very useful work, with Orton’s well thought out keys and a good coverage of species.

Available for download from the resources section of the BMS website.