vs

Clitocybe barbularum compared with Clitocybe marginella

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 barbularum	Clitocybe marginella

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

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, and Sweden.

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Clitocybe marginella is a small agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae found in temperate European woodland and semi-open habitats. Like many members of the diverse Clitocybe genus, it produces modest fruiting bodies with a depressed to funnel-shaped cap and decurrent gills running down the stipe, typically whitish to pale buff in coloration. The species fruits in autumn, colonizing leaf litter, humus-rich soils, and woodland margins where it functions as a saprotrophic decomposer. The epithet marginella may reference subtle marginal features of the cap or gills that help distinguish it from closely related species. Identification within this genus typically requires microscopic examination of spore size and shape, along with assessment of odor, taste, and substrate preferences. European Clitocybe diversity is significant, with dozens of species recorded across forest, grassland, and heathland habitats. C. marginella contributes to the intricate web of decomposer fungi that recycle nutrients in temperate forest ecosystems throughout Northwestern and Central Europe.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

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