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''Clitocybe nebularis'' or ''Lepista nebularis'', commonly known as the clouded agaric or cloud funnel, is an abundant gilled
fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately fr ...
which appears both in
conifer Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ext ...
-dominated forests and broad-leaved woodland in Europe and North America. Appearing in
Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
from late summer to late autumn, it is edible, but may cause gastrointestinal issues.


Taxonomy

The species was first described and named as ''Agaricus nebularis'' in 1789 by August Johann Georg Karl Batsch. It was later placed in the genus '' Clitocybe'' in 1871 by
Paul Kummer Paul Kummer (22 August 1834 – 6 December 1912) was a minister, teacher, and scientist in Zerbst, Germany, known chiefly for his contribution to mycological nomenclature. Earlier classification of agarics by pioneering fungal taxonomist Elias Ma ...
as ''Clitocybe nebularis''. After much consideration by many mycologists, over some years, when it was placed for periods in both ''
Lepista ''Lepista'' is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi. According to the ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' (10th edition, 2008), the widespread genus contains about 50 species. In 1969, Howard Bigelow and Alex H. Smith made the group a subgenus of ''Clito ...
'', and '' Gymnopus'', it was placed back in ''Clitocybe'' with the
specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bo ...
, and 1871 creditation it retains today.
''Clitocybe nebularis'' var. ''alba'' Bataille (1911), differs only in having a milk white cap, and is very rare.


Description

The
cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
of the mushroom is 5–25 cm (2–8 in) in diameter,
convex Convex or convexity may refer to: Science and technology * Convex lens, in optics Mathematics * Convex set, containing the whole line segment that joins points ** Convex polygon, a polygon which encloses a convex set of points ** Convex polytop ...
with an incurved margin, becoming plane to depressed in shape. Cap colours are generally greyish to light brownish-grey, and often covered in a whitish bloom when young. The surface of the cap is usually dry to moist, and radially fibrillose. The
gills A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
are pale, adnate to short-decurrent, close and usually forked. The
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
measures long and 2–4 cm wide; it is stout, swollen towards the base, becomes hollow with age, and is easily broken. It is usually somewhat lighter than the cap. The flesh is white, and very thick. It usually has a foul-smelling
odour An odor (American English) or odour (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds that are generally found in low concentrations that humans and animals can perceive via their sens ...
, which has been described as slightly farinaceous to rancid. The spores are yellow and elliptical. This species is host to the parasitic gilled mushroom '' Volvariella surrecta'', which is found on older specimens.


Edibility

The species is edible but even a small portion can cause gastrointestinal disturbances for some people.


Gallery

File:Cluded Agaric pileus.JPG, The Pileus or cap File:Clouded Agaric Gills.JPG, Detail of the gills File:Clouded Agaric underside.JPG, The gills and cut stipe (stalk) File:Hexenring Nebelgrauer Trichterling.JPG, ''C. nebularis'' growing in a
fairy ring A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear in grasslands or rangelands. Fairy rings are detectable b ...
formation Nevelzwam ( nebularis) (d.j.b.) 02.jpg, Close up of the top of a fully grown Clitocybe nebularis.


Similar species

The species may be confused with the poisonous '' Entoloma sinuatum'' both in Europe or North America, though this species has pink sinuate gills. It also resembles ''
Leucopaxillus albissimus ''Leucopaxillus albissimus'' is a species of mushroom that lives as a saprobe, decaying the litter under coniferous trees. It produces a large white fruiting body that is unusually resistant to decay. It is considered to be inedible. Descriptio ...
'' and ''
Tricholoma saponaceum ''Tricholoma saponaceum'', also known as the soap-scented toadstool, soapy knight or soap tricholoma is an inedible mushroom found in woodlands in Europe and North America. Taxonomy ''Tricholoma saponaceum'' was first described in 1818 by the f ...
''. ''
Leucopaxillus giganteus ''Leucopaxillus giganteus'', commonly known as the giant leucopax (formerly as the giant clitocybe) or the giant funnel, is a saprobic species of fungus in the family Tricholomataceae. As its common names imply, the fruit body, or mushroom, ...
'' is also similar in stature, but is whiter. '' Infundibulicybe geotropa'' has a pale brown cap.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q757125 nebularis Edible fungi Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America Fungi described in 1789 Taxa named by August Batsch