vs

Clitocybe leucodiatreta compared with Clitocybe marginella

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated 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 leucodiatreta	Clitocybe marginella

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

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 leucodiatreta is a pale agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae native to temperate European forests. The species name combines 'leuco' (white) with the related species epithet 'diatreta,' suggesting morphological similarity to Clitocybe diatreta but with a distinctly paler, more whitish appearance. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland floors, fruiting in autumn among accumulated leaf litter where it acts as a saprotrophic decomposer of organic matter. The fruiting bodies display the characteristic Clitocybe form: a depressed to funnel-shaped cap, crowded decurrent gills, and a cylindrical stipe. Distinguishing closely related small, pale Clitocybe species requires careful examination of spore morphology, odor, taste, and ecological context, with molecular phylogenetics increasingly used to resolve taxonomic boundaries within this challenging genus. C. leucodiatreta represents part of the remarkable diversity of saprotrophic fungi in European temperate forests, ecosystems where macrofungal diversity rivals that of the plant and invertebrate communities they help sustain through decomposition.

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