Rufous Funnel

Description

Clitocybe rivulosa, commonly known as the Rufous Funnel, is a highly poisonous agaric fungus belonging to the family Tricholomataceae. It is characterized by its white to cream or pale rufous (reddish-brown) coloration, often with concentric zones on the cap, and strongly decurrent gills. While attractive and sometimes mistaken for edible species, it contains a significant amount of muscarine, making it dangerously toxic to humans.

How to Identify

Cap

Initially convex with an incurved margin, expanding to plano-convex or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform) with a depressed center. The margin often remains inrolled or wavy. Color is white to cream, pale buff, or rufous (reddish-brown), often with faint concentric zones, particularly when young or wet. The surface is smooth, dry, and feels silky or finely pruinose. It typically ranges from 2-7 cm in diameter.

Gills

Adnate to strongly decurrent, closely spaced, narrow, and becoming somewhat forked near the stem. Color is white to creamy white, sometimes developing a pale tan or pinkish tint with age. There are numerous lamellulae (short gills).

Stem

Cylindrical or tapering slightly downwards, often flexuous (wavy), solid or stuffed, becoming hollow with age. Color is whitish to concolorous with the cap, sometimes darkening slightly towards the base. The surface is smooth or finely pruinose, often with a subtle fibrous texture. It measures 2-6 cm in height and 0.3-0.8 cm in thickness. There is no ring (annulus).

Flesh

Thin, white, and brittle, with no significant change in color when cut or bruised. It has a mild, mealy to slightly fungoid odor and taste (though tasting any wild mushroom is strongly discouraged due to toxicity).

Fruiting body

Small to medium-sized, white to pale reddish-brown, funnel-shaped or convex-depressed mushroom.

Habitat

Typically found growing scattered or in troops, often forming fairy rings, in grassy areas, lawns, pastures, roadsides, parks, and occasionally in open woodland edges. It prefers calcareous soils but can be found in various soil types. It is thought to be saprobic, deriving nutrients from decaying organic matter in the soil.

Key Facts

• Cap surfaces: Smooth, dry, silky or finely pruinose, sometimes faintly zonate.
• Growth Form: Terrestrial, often forming fairy rings.
• Spore Print: White.
• Body color: White to cream, pale buff, or rufous (reddish-brown).
• Odor: Faintly mealy or fungoid.
• Flesh bruises: No significant bruising or color change.
• Height: 2-6 cm.
• Cap Diameter: 2-7 cm.
• Nutrient gathering: Saprobic.

Quick Check

• Odor: Faintly mealy or fungoid, not distinctive enough for identification.
• Fruiting: Scattered, gregarious, or in fairy rings.
• Substrate: Soil, grass, decaying organic matter.

Where to Find

Finding Tips

Similar Species

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Agaricales

Family

Tricholomataceae

Genus

Clitocybe

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