Tawny Funnel Cap

Appearance

The following sections use the given references throughout.The spores are almost spherical with small spines or warts, about 4.5 µm in diameter. There are no distinctive cystidia. There is no microscopic difference between the "flaccida" and "inversa" forms.

Naming

The naming history of this mushroom is complicated by the fact that for a long time it was regarded as two different species, ""flaccida"" and ""inversa"". These forms can still be differentiated as varieties within "P. flaccida" if desired. The earliest description was by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1772 as "Agaricus inversus" in his book, then in 1799 James Sowerby created a description under the name "Agaricus flaccidus" in his major work "Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms". In later years there were defined the combinations "Clitocybe flaccida", "Clitocybe inversa", and "Lepista flaccida" and "Lepista inversa". There followed long-standing confusion over whether "Clitocybe" or "Lepista" was the appropriate genus.

Using molecular analysis, in 2012 Alfredo Vizzini published a paper showing that these mushrooms together with "Lepista gilva" form a clade which is separate from other "Lepista" species and also from "Clitocybe" species. Jörg H. Raithelhuber had already proposed the name "Paralepista" as a genus for those mushrooms in 1981, this had become accepted as a subgenus only, and Vizzini accordingly adopted the same name at the genus level. The new genus is recognized by Species Fungorum, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, but not necessarily in derivative databases such as the.

Older mushroom references generally listed the "flaccida" and "inversa" forms as separate species, but modern authorities merge them into one.

In English "P. flaccida" is sometimes called the tawny funnel cap.The "inversa" form is sometimes regarded as a separate species, in which case it is distinguished because it grows under conifers rather than broad-leaved trees, has a shinier cap surface, and is more rigid.

Both forms are closely allied to "Paralepista gilva" which can be identified by its yellower cap and stem, and the presence of dark spots on the cap surface. "P. flaccida" is also similar to the edible "Infundibulicybe gibba" which has thinner flesh, less crowded gills, and smooth teardrop-shaped spores.

More worrying for consumers of this species is the resemblance to the poisonous "Paralepistopsis amoenolens", which however seems to be limited in distribution to North Africa, southern France and southern Italy. "P. amoenolens" has a strong characteristic smell, a beige colour, and a less depressed cap; also the spores are smooth.

Distribution

This fungus is a saprobe growing on humus-rich soil, compost or conifer needles from summer to autumn. The "flaccida" form grows in deciduous woods and the "inversa" form under conifers. Often numerous mushrooms "fruit" together and it may form fairy rings.

It is most frequent in Europe where it is common. It also occurs in the U.S.A. and there have been reports of it from Mexico, and Australia.

Habitat

This fungus is a saprobe growing on humus-rich soil, compost or conifer needles from summer to autumn. The "flaccida" form grows in deciduous woods and the "inversa" form under conifers. Often numerous mushrooms "fruit" together and it may form fairy rings.

It is most frequent in Europe where it is common. It also occurs in the U.S.A. and there have been reports of it from Mexico, and Australia.

Uses

According to Marcel Bon this is a good edible mushroom, but other commentators are less enthusiastic, regarding it as poor. In relevant regions care should be taken to avoid confusion with "Paralepistopsis amoenolens". At least one source says that it is not recommended for consumption.

This thus mushroom has multiple chemical defenses. It contains a chlorinated lactone, 5--3-methyl-2-furanone that is a slug antifeedant. In addition, it has a new insecticidal nitro nucleoside, clitocine.

An article in Nature Communications reports that an extract of this mushroom, with active constituent 2,6-diaminopurine, can correct RNA nonsense mutations and so may be a candidate to help treatment of certain genetic diseases.