Fragrant Funnel / Summer / Autumn / Toxic

The Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) is a toxic mushroom that, despite its alluringly sweet scent, can be dangerous if consumed.

Found primarily in coniferous woodlands and grassy clearings during autumn and early winter, this small, seemingly harmless fungus is one foragers in the UK must learn to recognise and avoid.

Its misleadingly pleasant aroma and innocent appearance often catch the unwary off guard, making identification skills essential for safe foraging.

In this guide, we’ll explore the key features, habitat, and distinguishing characteristics of the Fragrant Funnel to help you stay safe in the wild.

Scientific Name

Clitocybe fragrans

Common Name

Fragrant funnel

Family

Tricholomataceae

Habitat and season

Found growing in woodland, in leaf litter, verges and in hedges.  

Common in the UK and Europe

Appears singularly or in small groups 

Later summer to  autumn

Identifying Features of the Fragrant funnel

Cap 

Cap is 1.5 – 4cm across convex in shape, later flattening out with a slight central depression .

Cream to clay in colour.

Smooth hygrophanous and matt

Striations on the cap margin, as the flesh slightly translucent the gills are visible on the cap upper surface

Stem:

No ring

Smooth to slightly fibrous

Gills:

Adnate to slightly decurrent,, moderately crowded, same colour as the cap with a slight pink tinge

Flesh:

white/ cream, with no colour changes

Smell:

Distinctly of aniseed, which is a key characteristic.

Spores

Pale cream

Edibility of the Fragrant funnel

Considered poisonous by some resources, edible but best avoided according to Mushrooms by Roger Phillips. So given the mixed reviews and possible confusion it is best left.

The Fragrant funnel Could Be Confused With

Other similarly sized and coloured Clitocybe sp such as the poisonous fools funnel clitocybe rivulosa or Clitocybe houghtonii looks similar but lack the aniseed smell.

The main confusion of concern would be the edible Aniseed funnel Clitocybe odora, which as the name suggests also smells of aniseed.  The distinguishing difference is the aniseed funnel has a blue-green greyish coloured cap, the fragrant funnel has a cream/ clay colour in comparison. 

Caution and known hazards

Do not eat. Some reports suggest it contains muscarine which is a metabolic disruptor.

Resources

Nature-first.com

Mushrooms by Roger Phillips