Cortinarius varius (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) as indicator species for calcareous coniferous forests.
Cortinarius varius is a well-known and easily identified species belonging to Cortinarius sub-genus Phlegmacium. It forms ectomycorrhiza with Picea abies and is confined to dry and mesic coniferous woodland on nutrient-rich soil and is often abundant in calcareous spruce forests. A study of the occurrence and density pattern of C. varius and its overlap with other red-listed ectomycorrhizal fungi in calcareous spruce forests was conducted in Nordingrå, Ångermanland (N. Sweden). The results indicate that C. varius could potentially serve as an indicator species for this habitat, but results need to be tested in more locations.