Clitocybe
{{Taxobox
color = lightblue | name = Clitocybe | image = Clitocybe.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Fungi | divisio = Basidiomycota | classis = Homobasidiomycetes | subclassis = Hymenomycetes | ordo = Agaricales | familia = Tricholomataceae | genus = Clitocybe
Hundreds of species of mushrooms compose the genus Clitocybe. They are characterized by white spore prints, gills running down the stem, and pale white to brown or lilac coloration. They are primarily saprophytic, decomposing forest ground litter.
A few members of the genus are considered edible; many others are poisonous, containing the toxin muscarine among others. Distinguishing individual species of Clitocybe is generally prohibitively difficult to non-experts, requiring the analysis of microscopic characters. Therefore, with the exception of a few charismatic and readily identified members, Clitocybe mushrooms are rarely collected for consumption. | A somewhat faded example of Clitocybe nuda |
A few examples from this genus include:
*Clitocybe clavipes - may be edible but poisonous when consumed in conjunction with alcohol
*Clitocybe dilata
*Clitocybe eccentrica
*Clitocybe gibba
*Clitocybe gigantea
*Clitocybe glutiniceps
*Clitocybe odora grows near birch trees, but can be easily mistaken for poisonous once mainly because of its appearance
*Clitocybe maxima
*Clitocybe nuda - common name: blewit - a common edible distinguished in part by its lilac hue
*Clitocybe schlerotoidea
*Clitocybe squamulosa
The bioluminescent Jack O'Lantern mushroom was formerly placed in this genus as Clitocybe illudens.* Mushroom hunting
* Mushroom poisoning* Genus Clitocybe at Mushroom Expert.com Bessette, A. E., Roody, W. C. & Bessette, A. R. (2000). North American boletes: A color guide to the fleshy pored mushrooms. China: Syracuse UP. 399 pp.
Bruns, T. D. & Palmer, J. D. (1989). Evolution of mushroom mitochondrial DNA: Suillus and related genera. Journal of Molecular Evolution 28: 349-362.
Smith, A. H., Smith, H. V. & Weber, N. S. (1981). How to know the non-gilled mushrooms. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown. 324 pp.
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