Species details

Clustered domecap

Lyophyllum decastes

Traditionally edible

Description

A brown to grey-brown gilled mushroom characteristically forming large dense clusters, with white to greyish gills and curved stems often fused at the base.

Identification features

The cap is smooth, brown and fades with age, initially convex and later flattened. Gills are crowded, whitish to grey. The stem is white, firm and often curved; several stems may be fused at the base.

Identification checklist

Check for dense clustered growth, a smooth brown to grey-brown cap, crowded whitish to grey gills and firm pale stems often tightly joined or fused at the base. Spore print is white.

How to separate similar species

White domecap is more uniformly white and FungiTrail does not recommend it for food. Armoured domecap has a darker cap with tougher skin. Other Lyophyllum species may blacken when bruised. Some white funnel mushrooms are poisonous.

Habitat

In woodland, parks, gardens and along paths, often on disturbed soil; mainly in autumn.