Clouded Funnel
The Clouded Funnel, or Clitocybe nebularis, is a large, greyish-brown woodland mushroom with a funnel-shaped cap, crowded decurrent gills, and a strong aroma, common in Europe and North America.
Scientific Name – Clitocybe nebularis
Common Names:
Clouded Funnel (EN), Clouded Agaric, Twmffat / Twndish Niwl (CY), Lejkówka Szarawa (PL), Szürke Tölcsérgomba (HU)
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Cap
8-12 cm. Starting convex the cap flattens and eventually forms a shallow funnel, it has inrolled edges at all stages. The colour is described as cloudy grey but is often more tan.
Gills
Running down the stem (decurrent) and crowded. Starting white but yellowing with age.
Stem
6-12 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm diameter. Slightly bulbous at the base, off white and fibrous.
Flesh
Thick, white and quite firm.
Habitat
In rings often under coniferous trees but can also be found in deciduous woodland, grassland and hedgerows.
Possible Confusion
Can look superficially like a Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda) but does not have any of the purple or lilac colouring to the gills.
Other Facts
This mushroom can make about 1 in 5 people quite ill but is a good edible if you are one of the lucky ones. The only way to find out is to try a small amount of mushroom and wait 24 hours to see if you have an adverse reaction. Must be cooked before consumption.
Identification and Appearance The Clouded Funnel is a robust, fleshy mushroom with a cap measuring 5–25 cm across, initially convex and flattening with age, often developing a shallow funnel or central depression. Its cap color ranges from pale grey to smoky brown, sometimes with a darker, clouded center, giving the species its common name. The gills are crowded, decurrent, and creamy-white to pale grey, while the stem is stout, fibrous, and slightly swollen at the base, usually paler than the cap. The flesh is thick and white, and the mushroom emits a strong, sweet or floral aroma, which some find unpleasant.
