Cortinarius squamulosus Pk. subgenus Telamonia Cap 3-10cm across, hemispherical at first, then convex with an incurved margin, finally flat; reddish ochre when young, then darkening to chocolate brown with hints of purple; the surface breaking up into tiny dark brown scales. Gills adnate; purple at first, then deep blackish brown. Stem 80- 150 x 10-20mm at the apex, with an enormous clavate bulb below, larger than the cap width in young specimens; ochre-brown with dark brown fibers and scales; stem has a ring-like zone from the brownish ochre veil, violet tomentum on base. Flesh mottled buff and brown, with purple at the stem apex in young specimens. Odor pleasant, spicy. Taste mild. Spores broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, rough, 7-8 x 5.5-6.5µ, quotient 1.25. Deposit dark rusty brown. Habitat in broad-leaved woods. Occasional. Found in New England and west to Wisconsin. Season August-September. Not edible. Comment The enormous bulbous stem is most distinctive.