Aniseed Funnel

Description

The aniseed funnel is a small mushroom with a blue-green cap, fading in older specimens, 5–10 cm across. The gills are distant, slightly running down the stem, cream to blue-green. The most characteristic feature is the strong smell and taste of aniseed.

It grows in late summer and autumn in coniferous and deciduous forests, in groups, sometimes in rings, often under alder, birch and aspen. It is fairly common in Poland.

The aniseed smell distinguishes it from similar mushrooms, but you must not rely on smell alone: young specimens can be confused with other species, including poisonous ones. If you are not sure of the species, do not pick it and do not eat it.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 3–10 cm (descriptions give different ranges). At first convex, later spread out with a blunt umbo, finally flat with a funnel-shaped depression; young with an inrolled margin, later wavy (according to some descriptions the young cap is bell-shaped, light blue, turning grey with age). Cuticle bare, dry, of a very characteristic blue-green colour; in older specimens it fades and turns white. There is a white variety (var. alba Lange) with the same smell.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills fairly distant, attached or slightly running down the stem. Colour from cream to blue-green.

Stem

Height 3–6 cm, thickness 1–2 cm (descriptions give different ranges); cylindrical, often with a thickened base. Colour like the cap or from white to buff. No ring.

Flesh

White, greenish only under the cap cuticle. Smell and taste strongly of aniseed. The smell comes from p-anisaldehyde and a small amount of benzaldehyde. Taste should not be tested in mushrooms you are not sure about.

Spore print and spores

Spore print whitish to slightly pinkish. Spore shape and size: no data.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Saprotroph, decomposing leaves and conifer needles. Grows in coniferous and deciduous forests, in small groups, sometimes forming fairy rings; in Poland mainly under grey alder, silver birch and aspen, rarely under fir and beech.

Distribution. Temperate zone of Europe, North America and Asia, also Australia and New Zealand. Fairly common in Central Europe. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. Late summer and autumn; in Europe from August to December.

What can it be confused with?

• Stropharia aeruginosa (verdigris agaric) — Has no aniseed smell; young specimens of the aniseed funnel can be confused with it.
• Other poisonous species similar to funnel caps — Young specimens can be confused with other poisonous mushrooms; details — 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 species name odora means “fragrant” in Latin; the smell comes from p-anisaldehyde.
• The species is also called lejkówka zielonawa in Polish literature and in 2023 it was moved to the genus Collybia.
• It sometimes forms fairy rings.
• There is an entirely white variety, alba, which keeps the same smell.