''Infundibulicybe gibba'' (also known as ''Clitocybe gibba'') is a species of gilled mushroom which is common in European woods. In English it is sometimes known as the common funnel.

Naming

This species was originally described by the mycologist

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy. Early life Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an immig ...

in 1801 as ''Agaricus gibbus'', at a time when gilled mushrooms were generally all assigned to genus ''Agaricus''. Then in 1871 in his guide to mycology ("Der Führer in die Pilzkunde"), Paul Kummer allocated the species to the genus '' Clitocybe'', which previously (according to the system of Fries) had only been a tribe within genus ''Agaricus''. In 2003 Harri Harmaja created the new genus '' Infundibulicybe'' for some of the larger members of the former ''Clitocybe'' and he included ''Infundibulicybe gibba'' as the type species. A couple of authorities still keep it in genus ''Clitocybe'', however. The older name ''Clitocybe infundibuliformis'' is often identified as a synonym of ''I. gibba'', but according to Species Fungorum that use was incorrect and the original ''C. infundibuliformis'' was a different mushroom. The epithet ''gibba'' comes from the Latin adjective "gibbus", meaning "humped" or " gibbous". The name ''infundibuliformis'' derives from the Latin "infundibulum", a funnel, with the suffix "-formis" - so it means "funnel-shaped".

Description

This section uses the given references throughout. *The matt slightly felted cap grows from about 3 cm to 9 cm, and is beige to tan, also sometimes with a pink tinge. It soon becomes funnel-shaped but often has a small bulge (an " umbo") in the centre. *There is no ring or other veil remnant. The stem is white or whitish and about 2–8 cm long and 1 cm in diameter. *The white gills are crowded and very decurrent (running down the stem). *It has a faint "cyanic" smell, like new-mown hay, and the taste is mild. However, there is also a central European variety "''adstringens''" which has an unpleasant taste. *The tear-shaped spores are white and around 5.5–8 µm by 4–5 µm.

Distribution, habitat, ecology and human impact

This gregarious saprobic mushroom grows on soil in deciduous or (less commonly) coniferous woods and may be found from summer to autumn. It sometimes forms fairy rings. It is very common throughout Europe, and occurs in North America and Japan. It is edible when young, but said to be of mediocre quality. It can be fried or used in risottos or soups etc. The stems are tough and may be discarded. The species resembles some which are poisonous. An

extract An extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol, oil or water. Extracts may be sold as tinctures, absolutes or in powder form. The aromatic principles of many spices, nuts, h ...

of I. gibba exhibits inhibitory activity on thrombin.

Similar species

The species resembles ''Infundibulicybe squamulosa'' and '' Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q765631, from2=Q46795429 Tricholomataceae Edible fungi Fungi described in 1801 Fungi of Europe Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon