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Clitocybe agrestis compared with Clitocybe barbularum

Key Differences

• is Least Concern while is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family same	Tricholomataceae	Tricholomataceae
Genus same	Clitocybe	Clitocybe
Species	Clitocybe agrestis	Clitocybe barbularum

Evolutionary Relationship

and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Clitocybe.

Conservation Status

LC — Least Concern

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Clitocybe agrestis is a small, pale agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae found across Western and Northern Europe, recorded from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. It typically inhabits open grassy habitats including meadows, pastures, lawns, and roadsides, fruiting in autumn when moisture conditions are favorable. The cap is whitish to pale buff, often inrolled when young and becoming broadly flattened to slightly funnel-shaped with age, with crowded, decurrent gills and a short cylindrical stipe. The genus Clitocybe is characterized by the funnel-shaped or depressed cap and decurrent gill arrangement that gives many species a distinctive appearance. C. agrestis is a saprotrophic decomposer, breaking down plant litter and organic matter in grassland soils. It may be confused with toxic Clitocybe species, making accurate identification important. The species is listed as Least Concern, though European grassland fungi broadly face pressure from agricultural intensification, nitrogen deposition, and conversion of diverse meadows to monoculture pastures.

Clitocybe barbularum is a small agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae occurring in Northern European temperate and boreal habitats, primarily documented from Scandinavian countries. It grows in grassy areas, woodland clearings, forest margins, and occasionally on disturbed ground, fruiting in late summer through autumn. The fruiting bodies are relatively small and inconspicuous with the characteristic Clitocybe form: a depressed to shallowly funnel-shaped cap, often whitish to pale greyish or buff, with crowded, decurrent gills and a slender stipe. The specific epithet barbularum suggests an association with particular microhabitats or substrates. As a saprotrophic fungus, C. barbularum plays a role in decomposing plant litter and returning nutrients to the soil ecosystem. The broader Clitocybe genus contains both edible and mildly toxic species, and smaller pale species are approached cautiously by foragers. This species reflects the high diversity of macrofungi in Scandinavian landscapes, where boreal and mixed forest systems support exceptional fungal biodiversity.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden