This beautiful funnel mushroom traditionally belonged in the genus Clitocybe until 2003 when molecular data revealed typical Clitocybe stature occurs in several evolutionary lines. Several new genera including Infundibulicybe were created for some of the larger members of the former Clitocybe and included Infundibulicybe gibba as the type species. (1)
Their 4 to 8 cm. smooth and silky wide caps are mostly a creamy-brown colour often with a pinkish tinge, almost pink or yellowish, fading with age. Initially convex, the caps expand and develop into funnels often with a wavy margin or slightly ribbed.
This funnel’s cap has deeply decurrent, white or pale buff gills that are narrow and quite crowded wth many short intermediates. Their buff, tough often hollow stems are 5 to 10mm in diameter and 3 to 7cm tall. They are equal or slightly widened towards the base, often with copious white mycelium adhering to the substrate.
This saprobic mushroom is found on the ground among the dead leaves of deciduous forests although occurs occasionally under conifers.
The spore print is white. For those that have a microscope the spores are teardrop shaped, smooth, 5.5-8 X 3.5-5 μm and inactive in Melzer’s reagent or 10% Lugol’s iodine solution.
- Division: Basidiomycota
- Class: Agaricomycetes
- Order: Agaricales
- Family: Incertae sedis
- Genus: Infundibulicybe
- Species: gibba
- Cap: creamy brown, yellowish to pink
- Gills: white, deeply decurrent
- Stem: buff, tough with white mycelium at base
- Spores: white
- Odour: Odour not distinctive or sometimes sweet,
- Taste: taste not distinctive
- Chemical Reactions: KOH on fresh cap may be briefly pale green
(1)Harmaja H (2003). “Notes on Clitocybe s. lato (Agaricales)”. Annales Botanici Fennici. 40 (3): 213–218.
This article, including the photos, are generously brought to you by Ken Dies, an AMS member. Ken is an outstanding photographer and recipient of the 2016 AMS President’s Award.
