 The "violet cort" ("Cortinarius violaceus") has a dry, scaly, dark purple cap and stem.The "pungent cort" ("Cortinarius traganus") has a dry, light purple cap and stem and a bad odor.Two other widespread "Cortinarius" species with violet coloring and a slimy cap, "C. salor" and "C. croceocaeruleus", can be distinguished from "C. iodes" by the absence of yellowish spotting.