Clitocybe phyllophila (Pers.) P. Kumm. - Frosty Funnel

Phylum: Basidiomycota - Class: Agaricomycetes - Order: Agaricales - Family: Tricholomataceae

Distribution - Taxonomic History - Etymology - Identification - Toxicity - Reference Sources

An infrequent find in both coniferous and deciduous broadleaf woodland, these pretty funnels are translucent when viewed from beneath in sunlight. The frosted nature of the cap is best seen on young specimens during dry weather.

This very poisonous funnel contains the toxin muscarine. Great care is essential if gathering any white-gilled mushrooms (for example Calocybe gambosa, St George's Mushroom) that are intended for consumption.

Distribution

Rather uncommon but widespread in all kinds of woodland throughout most of Britain and Ireland (most particularly in the south), these toxic toadstools are found also in many parts of mainland Europe and in North America.

Taxonomic history

This species was described in 1801 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, who gave it the binomial scientific name Agaricus phyllophilus. (At that time most gilled fungi were initially placed in a gigantic Agaricus genus, which has since been slimmed down with most of its contents being transferred to other newer genera.)

In 1871 German mycologist Paul Kummer transferred this species to the genus Clitocybe, establishing its currently-accepted scientific name as Clitocybe rivulosa.

Synonyms of Clitocybe phyllophila include Agaricus phyllophilus Pers., Agaricus cerussatus Fr., Agaricus pithyophilus Fr., Clitocybe cerussata (Fr.) P. Kumm., Clitocybe pithyophila (Fr.) Gillet, and Clitocybe cerussata var. pithyophila (Fr.) J. E. Lange.

Etymology

Clitocybe means 'sloping head', while the specific epithet phyllophila comes from Greek and means 'fond of leaves' - a reference to the preferred habitat of this mainly woodland saprobic fungus.

Toxicity

Clitocybe phylophilla is a deadly poisonous and fairly common species that grows in habitats where people expect to find edible mushrooms. That makes it very dangerous indeed. The symptoms of poisoning by this and several similar white-capped Clitocybe species are those associated with muscarine poisoning. Excessive salivation and sweating set in within half an hour of eating these fungi. Depending on the amount consumed, victims may also suffer abdominal pains, sickness and diarrhoea, together with blurred vision and laboured breathing. Deaths of otherwise healthy people from eating these fungi are very rare, but anyone with a weakened heart or with respiratory problems is much more at risk.

Identification guide

	Cap 4 to 10cm across; convex, flattening with a wavy margin, usually developing a shallow central depression and retaining a small umbo; smooth and silky when dry; white with a fine bloom, developing buff or ochre spots mostly near the centre.
	Gills Decurrent; crowded; white, turning cream with age. Stem 4 to 8cm long and 0.7 to 1.5cm diameter; smooth; white; downy at base; no stem ring.
	Spores Ellipsoidal to subglobose, smooth, 4-5 x 3-3.5μm. Show larger image Spores of Clitocybe phyllophila, Frosty Funnel  X  Spore print Pale pinkish ochraceous clay.
Odour/taste	Odour sweet; taste not distinctive, but in any case tasting any white-gilled fungi is inadvisable.
Habitat & Ecological role	Saprobic, in broadleaf and coniferous woodland and on grassy verges beneath hedgerows.
Season	July to early December in Britain and Ireland.
Similar species	Calocybe gambosa, St George's Mushroom, has thicker cap flesh and a mealy odour; it occurs in similar habitats but mainly between late April and early July.

Reference Sources

Fascinated by Fungi, 2nd Edition, Pat O'Reilly 2016, reprinted by Coch-y-bonddu Books in 2022.

British Mycological Society (2010). English Names for Fungi

Funga Nordica, Henning Knudsen and Jan Vesterholt, 2008.

Dictionary of the Fungi; Paul M. Kirk, Paul F. Cannon, David W. Minter and J. A. Stalpers; CABI, 2008

Taxonomic history and synonym information on these pages is drawn from many sources but in particular from the British Mycological Society's GB Checklist of Fungi.

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