Clitocybe odora
Aniseed Funnel
Status:
Occasional, common in the North.
Meaning depressed or sloping head
Cap:
4-8 cm
Stem:
3-7 cm
Meaning fragrant
Description
An iconic species which once seen and smelt is easy to remember. Never numerous, we often find a small number of specimens growing together but never lots. The blue-green colour and strong smell of aniseed should immediately point you to this species, the smell however can vary, strong in certain specimens and very weak, almost absent in others. If you are planning to eat this species it is recommended that you dry the mushroom and powder it and use it more as a spice than just eating them whole. For this reason only pick strongly smelling specimens.
Spores
6-8 x3-4µ, ellipsoid.
Smell
Can be strongly of aniseed but sometimes it is faint and sometimes not at all present, depening on the age and quality of the specimen. If using for eating then ensure it is strongly of aniseed or it is not worth it.
Season
Summer to late Autumn, we have found them from June to November.
Habitat & Distribution
Found amongst leaf litter of decidous trees, most commonly Beech (Fagus). Occasional in the north and Common in the south. Found over the entire UK.
Edibility
Edible, but due to its aniseed flavour it is often dried and ground up and used as a seasoning. Beware not to confuse any specimens with other poisonous Clitocybes.
Spore Print Colour
White.
Confusion Species
You must be aware of wrongly picking any of the poisonous Clitocybes if you are intending on using the species for cooking. The strong blue-green colour and aniseed smell should be enough to not confuse it with other species, leave worn or faded Aniseed Funnels alone if eating as they could be confused with other species. The Ivory Funnel (Clitocybe dealbata) is white in colour and has a mealy not aniseed smell, it is also found more often in grassland habitat.