Aniseed Funnel - Clitocybe odora
Main features
-
Fruits Summer to Autumn
-
Found individually or in small groups in leaf litter
-
Smells strongly of aniseed
-
Cap surface grey-blue
-
Cap starts off convex and flattens to become funnelled
-
Older cap edges are wavy
-
Cap is 3-8cm wide
-
Stem is grey and covered in fine white fibres
-
Has no stem ring/skirt
-
Stem is 4-6cm tall
-
Flesh is white
-
Gills are fairly well spaced and slightly decurrent
-
Gills are white-grey
-
Spore print is white
Aniseed Funnel - Clitocybe odora
Edible mushroom - novice
Other common names: Aniseed Funnel Cap, Aniseed Toadstool, Aniseed Mushroom
Scientific name meaning: Clitocybe is from the Greek Klitos meaning slope. Odora is from the Latin Odorus, meaning fragrant
Season - when will I find it? Summer to Autumn
Habitat - where will I find it? In leaf litter
Description - what does it look like?
Growth: The Aniseed Funnel is a saprobic mushroom in leaf litter as individual specimens or in small groups
Cap: The caps start off blue-grey in colour and pales to buff with age. It is convex at first and flattens before becoming slightly funnelled with a wavy edge. It is 3-8cm wide
Gills: The slightly decurrent (running down the stem) gills are grey-white and not too widely spaced
Flesh: White
Stem: The grey stem is covered with fine white fibres. It is 0.5-1cm wide and 4-6cm tall and swollen at its base. Has no ring or skirt
Smell: Strongly of aniseed
Spore colour: White
Possible lookalikes Could be confused with the aniseed-scented suspect Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans), but this is cream coloured in its cap. Also, could be mistaken for the Blue Roundhead (Stropharia caerulea), but this does not smell of aniseed
Use as food This mushroom is strongly aniseed flavoured. It makes good sauces for fish, and a flavouring for soups, stews and risottos. It can be dried, powered and used as a flavouring
Use in medicine Has been shown to inhibit sarcoma growth in mice
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner
Hazards This mushroom often grows near roads. Mushrooms can bioaccumulate toxins, including heavy metals, so roadside harvesting should be avoided
Importance to other species Provides food for a the larvae of a number of fly species. Worth remembering when harvesting for eating!
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
