Infundibulicybe

Description

The fruitingbody of Infundibulicybe is clitocyboid and not hygrophanous. The cap diameter can vary from 1,5 to 25 cm, with some growing as large as 40 cm. Its shape can be depressed to funnel-like with a velvety to finely scaly surface. The colouration of the basidiocarp is white to pale buff to buff, pinkish buff, yellowish, yellowish brown, orange brown, reddish brown or greyish brown. The gills are decurrent to deeply decurrent. This basidiomycete smells faint, from cyanic to sweet aromatic and faintly camphor-like when fresh. The spore deposit is whitish and spores are dikaryoid, smooth, hyaline and without iodine reactions. The basidia are 4-spored, cheilocystidia are absent and clamp connections present. They grow saprotrophic on litter of leaves and needles or soil in forests, grassland and alpine habitats.

Infundibulicybe shares some characteristics with Omphalina, like the cream-reddish brown tinges of pileus and stipe, the deeply decurrent lamellae and strongly encrusting pigment. Another member of the group, I. lateritia is a rare alpine-arctic species strictly associated with Dryas octopetala (Rosaceae).