Fragrant Funnel
A small size funnel mushroom with amazing aniseed scent. Don’t be fooled, it is considered inedible, or even toxic by some.
Mushroom Type | |
Common Names | Fragrant Funnel (EN), Twmffat / Twndish Peraroglus (CY), Lejkówka Dusząca (PL), Illatos Tölcsérgomba (HU) |
Scientific Name | Clitocybe fragrans |
Synonyms | Clitocybe suaveolens |
Season Start | Aug |
Season End | Dec |
Average Mushroom height (CM) | 2–6 |
Average Cap width (CM) | 1–4 |
Cap
1–4 cm across, white to off-white, greyish-buff in colour, but it is hygrophanous, so rather variable. Initially convex, then becoming almost flat, its centre often slightly depressed. Margin is often, but not always striated, initially inrolled.
Stem
2–6 cm long, 0.2–0.5 cm diameter. Cylindrical, creamy white to pale buff; smooth or slightly fibrous.
Flesh
Thin, hygrophanous, concolorous with the cap; the stem can be hollow.
Habitat
Fruiting solitary or in smaller groups on wet and mossy spots on the soil, often close to hardwoods. In open woodlands, parklands, cemeteries, large gardens etc. Sometimes can be found almost all year long (except in the hot summer period), but mostly from late Summer/early Autumn to early Winter. Common and widespread in the UK.
Possible Confusion
Bleached specimens of Aniseed Funnel (Clitocybe odora), pictured, might look rather similar, but they are usually larger than Fragrant Funnel, and its younger specimens have a vivid blue green colour.
The toxic Fool’s Funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa, syn: Clitocybe dealbata) aka Ivory Funnel, has a somewhat sweet-aromatic smell.
Taste / Smell
Inedible or suspected toxic by some. Taste unknown, smell strong aniseed-like.
Frequency
Common.
Spores
Spore print is pale cream to orange cream. Spores are ellipsoid, smooth. Staining with Congo Red or Cresyl Blue.
Other Facts
It contains traces of muscarine, so should not be consumed!
1 comment for Fragrant Funnel
Picked one of these up today – smelled DELICIOUS, reminiscent of field blewits/ wood blewits but stronger.
Wanted to eat, but everything I read advised against it so it sadly went in the bin
Nothing that smells that good should be poisonous.. I feel we need more research on this !!