vs Clouded Agaric

Clitocybe augeana compared with Clitocybe nebularis

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Clouded Agaric is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Clouded Agaric
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
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 augeana	Clitocybe nebularis

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Clouded Agaric
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, Norway, and Sweden.

Clouded Agaric

Habitat

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

Range

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

Clitocybe augeana is a saprotrophic agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae native to Northern European forests and grasslands, with principal records from Scandinavia. It produces modest fruiting bodies with the genus-typical depressed to funnel-shaped cap, whitish to pale greyish coloration, and decurrent gills running down the stipe. Like many Clitocybe species, it emerges during autumn in habitats ranging from deciduous and mixed woodland floors to grassy clearings and forest margins, where it decomposes accumulated leaf litter and organic matter. The taxonomy of smaller, pale Clitocybe species has undergone considerable revision through molecular phylogenetic studies, with several species previously grouped together now recognized as distinct entities based on spore morphology, habitat preferences, and DNA sequence data. C. augeana contributes to the rich diversity of macrofungi documented in Scandinavian boreal and nemoral forests, ecosystems recognized for their exceptional fungal species richness and ecological importance in nutrient cycling processes.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden