Clouded Agaric vs Coast Myall

Clitocybe nebularis compared with Acacia binervia

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Clouded Agaric Coast Myall
Kingdom Fungi (Fungi) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms) Fabales (Legumes & Allies)
Family Tricholomataceae Fabaceae
Genus Clitocybe Acacia
Species Clitocybe nebularis Acacia binervia

Conservation Status

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Coast Myall

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Clouded Agaric Coast Myall
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clouded Agaric

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and United States.

Coast Myall

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Clouded Agaric

The clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis, syn. Lepista nebularis) is a large, robust saprotrophic mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae found across temperate broadleaved and mixed forests of Europe and North America. It produces pale grey to buff fruiting bodies with broad, wavy caps up to 20 cm diameter, crowded, slightly decurrent gills, and a stout stipe, typically emerging in large fairy rings or scattered groups in autumn woodland settings. The common name 'clouded' refers to the greyish, misty coloration of the cap surface. Though historically eaten in parts of Europe and considered edible when thoroughly cooked, C. nebularis is now known to contain toxic compounds and a heat-labile gastrointestinal toxin that causes illness in some individuals, and it is associated with documented poisoning cases. Its strong mealy odor is distinctive. The species is widespread and common across European deciduous forests, fruiting reliably in autumn and forming an important component of the saprotrophic fungal community responsible for decomposing accumulated leaf litter and organic matter in temperate forest ecosystems.

Coast Myall

Coast myall (Acacia binervia) is a small to medium tree or tall shrub in the family Fabaceae, native to coastal and near-coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland in eastern Australia. It grows in coastal heath, dry sclerophyll woodland, and scrubby vegetation on sandy or rocky substrates, often in association with banksias and eucalypts. Like most Australian wattles, coast myall produces phyllodes—flattened leaf-stalks functioning as leaves—rather than true compound leaves in mature plants. The dark green phyllodes are distinctive, with two main veins, giving rise to the species name binervia. Golden-yellow, spherical flower heads are produced in winter to spring, attracting native bees. The genus Acacia sensu lato encompasses hundreds of species across Australia and globally, many of which play important ecological roles in nitrogen cycling through root symbioses. Coast myall is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. It is sometimes planted in coastal revegetation projects for its tolerance of poor, sandy soils, drought, and salt-laden winds.

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