''Clitopaxillus alexandri'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 from th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

'' Pseudoclitocybaceae''. It has been given the recommended English name of Alexander's funnel. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are

agaricoid An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushrooms ...

and resemble those of '' Clitocybe'' species. The species is

saprotrophic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...

and is mainly known from Europe.

Description

The pileus (cap) is convex at first becoming umbonate with age, smooth, 50–200 mm in diameter, grey to reddish brown, cracking with age. The lamellae (gills) are decurrent and paler than the pileus. The stipe (stem) is up to 100 mm tall, and yellowish white. The context is whitish with an almond smell. The spore print is white. Microscopically the

basidiospores A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi, a grouping that includes mushrooms, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are pro ...

are smooth, ellipsoid, weakly amyloid, and measure 4.5–5.5 x 3.5–4.0 μm.

Similar species

The recently described '' Clitopaxillus fibulatus'' is very similar, but differs microscopically in its slightly larger basidiospores and

hyphae A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...

with more abundant

clamp connections A clamp connection is a hook-like structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is a characteristic feature of Basidiomycetes fungi. It is created to ensure that each cell, or segment of hypha separated by septa (cross walls), recei ...

. It also differs in having a subarctic and alpine distribution.

Habitat and distribution

The species typically occurs in leaf litter with pine, oak, and cedar. It was originally described from France and is mostly known from southern, western, and central Europe, extending into North Africa.

Conservation

''Clitopaxillus alexandri'' is assessed as "critically endangered" on the Red Data List of Threatened British Fungi, "vulnerable" on the Dutch red list, and "threatened" or "near threatened" on some other European red lists, including those of Germany, Hungary, and Norway.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q101150492 Fungi of Europe Fungi of Africa Fungi described in 1873