This species is characterized by its lilac universal veil, wich is often left as remnants on the cap and the bulb surface. It belongs to section Callochroi, and it can easily be confused with related species, such as Cortinarius suaveolens or Cortinarius callochrous var. parvus.

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[Cortinarius calochrous can be viewed as a very variable t species with yellow cap, broadly marginate bulb, more or less lilac gills and coarsly ornamented spores. Within this variation however it is possible to distinguish several entities differing in base reactions, spore size and cap colour. The status of these are however uncertain at present, and finding the right names for these is another task. The naming here is therefore rather uncertain]