The aniseed-like smell of Clitocybe fragrans is its most noticeable feature, yet the mushroom has several lookalikes, and some of them are poisonous.
This is a species of mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae, within the order Agaricales. It grows on the ground in woodland, so its presence is easy to overlook among other white woodland fungi.
The species is worth reading about because its identification depends on small, careful distinctions between it and deadly relatives.
Fruiting Body and Identification
The most reliable clue is the aniseed odour. Clitocybe fragrans is a white mushroom whose fragrant smell resembles aniseed, and this scent sets it apart from many of its relatives.
The cap measures 1–5 cm across. The gills are somewhat close together. The stem is 2–6 cm long and 2–5 mm wide. The spore print is whitish.
Other lookalikes without the anise scent occur mainly in the genera Leucocybe, Rhizocybe and Singerocybe.
Distribution and Habitat
Clitocybe fragrans occurs throughout Europe, where it grows in broadleaf woodland from August to December.
On North America's West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, it grows under conifers from October to February.
Presence records are most frequent in autumn, with the highest numbers in October.
Photos
Photographs from via iNaturalist, licensed under CC0 1.0., by Sable Burgess via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Stuart Fraser via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Andrejus Gaidamavičius via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Katrin Simon via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Chris Yesson via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by dennisvo via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Alex Press via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Matthew Sawyer via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., and by victor laborde via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., credited on each photo.
Ecology and classification
Classification
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Agaricales
- Family
- Tricholomataceae
- Genus
- Clitocybe
- Species
- Clitocybe fragrans
Sources
- GBIF Species names and classification
- iNaturalist Photos
- Wikidata Common names and conservation status
- Wikipedia Summary extract
