Miller

Description

The miller is a white or whitish-grey mushroom with a cap 3–10 cm across, which with age becomes funnel-shaped, with an inrolled margin. The cuticle is dry and matt, like suede. The gills run deeply down the stem, at first white, then pinkish; the spore print is pinkish. The flesh smells of freshly ground flour.

It grows from July to November in deciduous and coniferous forests, most often among mosses, on paths, roads and glades, almost always in groups. In Poland it is very common.

It is easily confused with poisonous white funnel caps and the livid pinkgill, so only very experienced mushroom pickers should collect it. The pink spore print and the smell are decisive, but never a single feature. If in doubt, do not eat it.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 3–10 cm; hemispherical when young, then arched with a sunken centre, finally funnel-shaped; margin always inrolled. Cuticle white or whitish-grey (descriptions also say up to light grey, sometimes yellowish), dry, bare and matt, like suede, slightly slimy after rain. Variety var. orcellus has a slimy cap and white colours.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills crowded, low, of unequal length, running fairly deeply down the stem; at first white, later pinkish (the colour comes from the spores).

Stem

Height 2–8 cm, thickness 4–18 mm (descriptions give different ranges); cylindrical, solid, sometimes eccentric, fibrously grooved, frosted, narrowing downward. White, sometimes greyish. Without a ring.

Flesh

White, soft, elastic, does not change colour. Taste insignificant, smell resembles freshly ground flour (according to some descriptions also cucumber). Do not taste the flesh of unidentified mushrooms.

Spore print and spores

Spore print pinkish (pink). Spores broadly fusiform, 9–14 × 5–6.5 µm (descriptions give different ranges).

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Terrestrial saprotroph. Grows in deciduous and coniferous forests, mainly among mosses, in lighter places: on paths, roads, glades; according to some descriptions also grassy habitats.

Distribution. Northern Hemisphere of the temperate zone; also Central America and Australia (according to some descriptions). In Poland very common. Not legally protected.

Fruiting. From July to November, almost always in groups.

What can it be confused with?

• Clitocybe phyllophila (Polish: lejkówka liściowa), Clitocybe rivulosa (Polish: lejkówka rozlana), Clitocybe dealbata — Poisonous white funnel caps with a white spore print, not pink. In the miller the gills are strongly decurrent, pinkish; smell mealy; the gills detach more easily from the cap; C. rivulosa is a meadow species, the miller rather a forest one.
• Entoloma sinuatum (the livid pinkgill; Polish: dzwonkówka trująca) — Strongly poisonous. Distinguished by the miller's strongly decurrent, pinkish gills and characteristic smell.
• Lyophyllum connatum (Polish: kępkowiec białawy, Leucocybe connata) — Often confused; spore print white. Details — no data.
• Clitocybe subconnexa, Cuphophyllus angustifolius, Leucocybe candicans — Potential lookalikes; detailed differences — no data.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• The English names "miller" and "sweetbread mushroom" come from the characteristic smell of freshly ground flour.
• Scopoli described the smell as freshly ground flour; the cucumber smell is attributed to trans-2-nonenal.
• It contains the volatile compound 1-octen-3-ol, which makes it unpalatable to the Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus).
• It is the type species of the genus Clitopilus.