The mushrooms' characteristics are quite common, making them difficult to identify, which often leads to fatal poisonings.

Often has a steeper and darker colored elevation at the top of the cap, but this varies greatly from specimen to specimen Gills: Wide gaps between the gills which can be, but are not necessarily, connected to the stem Location: Rare, but common in temperate parts of northern Europe.

Habitat: pine woods with acidic soil Other details: Young specimens contain a pale web between the cap and the stem.

Cortinarius rainierensis, described in 1950 by Alex H. Smith and Daniel Elliot Stuntz from material collected Mount Rainier National Park,[2] is a synonym.

Has been observed as far north as southern Norway Habitat: In forests, around trees where the soil is alkaline or acidic Other details: Young specimens of the fool's webcap also contain a web between the cap and the stem that partially or completely disappears as the specimen ages.

The first symptoms of orellanin poisoning are similar to the common flu (nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, headaches, etc.).

[9] Although the poisoning was non-lethal, Evans and the others suffered severe renal damage and had to undergo kidney dialysis.