Clitocybes

Clitocybes are a large genus of basidiomycete fungi in the order Agaricales. They commonly form funnel- or infundibuliform-shaped fruiting bodies with decurrent gills, and a range of colors from white and cream to brown or gray. They produce a pale spore print.

Most species are saprotrophic, growing on leaf litter, grassy soils, moss, or decaying wood, and they fruit in autumn in temperate forests and grasslands. They are found worldwide, with particularly rich diversity in temperate regions.

Notable species include Clitocybe nebularis, the clouded funnel, a large grayish funnel; Clitocybe dealbata, the ivory funnel, a small white species that contains muscarine; and Clitocybe rivulosa, the fool's funnel, also muscarine-containing and potentially dangerous. Many other Clitocybe species exist, exhibiting a variety of sizes and cap colors.

Edibility is variable and identification can be challenging. Because some species contain toxins and some resemble edible look-alikes, foraging for Clitocybes is generally discouraged by field guides and experts.

Taxonomy and classification have been influenced by molecular studies, and many species once placed in Clitocybe have been moved to other genera or split into closely related groups. The genus remains a large, heterogeneous assemblage of funnel-form mushrooms with a characteristic decurrent gill arrangement.