Clouded agaric - Clitocybe nebularis
- The Foraging Course Company
- Apr 17
- 2 min read

Suspected poisonous mushroom - intermediate Season - autumn to winter Common names Clouded agaric, clouded funnel
Scientific name meaning: Clitocybe is from the Greek Klitos meaning slope. Nebularis is Latin in origin, meaning smokey or clouded
Habitat ![]() The clouded agaric is a saprobic mushroom found growing in leaf litter. |
Overall structure and growth ![]() Quite a large mushroom gorwing in rings or partial rings. |
Cap ![]() Grey in colour, sometimes with cloud-like pattern near its centre, the cap can reach 5 to 20cm wide and is fleshy. It is convex or slightly conical at first, flattening with age becoming slightly funnel-shaped. The edge sometimes become wavy in older specimens and often the cap edge remains inrolled. |
Gills and spores ![]() Crowded and adnate (broadly attached) or slightly decurrent (running down the stem), the gills start off white. As the mushroom matures, the gills become cream-coloured. The spore colour is pale cream. |
Stem ![]() Sturdy, smooth and cream to grey in colour, the stem is usually 2 to 3cm wide an 5 to 12cm tall. It has no ring and a swollen base, often swelling more to one side. |
Flesh, smell and taste ![]() The creamy-white flesh is solid. |The smell is mild to fruity but there is no real taste. |
Possible lookalikes ![]() Could be confused with the seriously poisonous livid pinkgill (Entoloma sinuatum), which has a slightly unpleasant smell and gills that turn pink with age. Also could be confused with the wood blewit (Lepista nuda), but this has pale lilac gills. |
Suspected poisonous parts This mushroom is poisonous uncooked. Even if it is cooked it is considered poisonous by some and edible with caution by others. Regardless, this mushroom causes severe gastric distress in a significant number of people. Because of this, The Foraging Course Company advises against eating this mushroom Hazards This mushroom is suspected to be poisonous and consumption of it is not advised
Use in herbal medicine and medicine None known
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner Other uses Has shown potential as a natural insecticide Importance to other species Provides food for a the larvae of a number of fly species
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!
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