How to tell Frosty funnel from Ivory funnel
How they differ, how to recognize them and which is more dangerous — a mushroom comparison
Warning: Frosty funnel(Clitocybe phyllophila)
POISONOUS
Eating it causes poisoning. Do not pick it unless you have identified it with certainty.
Toxin: muscarine in moderately high concentration. Symptoms begin 15-60 minutes after eating. Classic muscarinic syndrome (PSL): profuse salivation, heavy sweating, tearing, constricted pupils (miosis), bronchospasm, bradycardia, low blood pressure, intestinal cramps, diarrhea, nausea. Lasts 4-12 hours. The antidote is atropine, given in hospital under ECG monitoring. If you suspect poisoning — call 112 or your local emergency number immediately. Keep the mushroom remains for identification. The prognosis is good with prompt treatment.
If you suspect poisoning, call an ambulance immediately: 112 (the European emergency number) or your local emergency number
Warning: Ivory funnel(Clitocybe dealbata)
POISONOUS
Eating it causes poisoning. Do not pick it unless you have identified it with certainty.
Toxin: muscarine in high concentration. Symptoms begin 15-60 minutes after eating (fast). Classic muscarinic syndrome (PSL): profuse salivation (by the liter), sweating that soaks through clothing, tearing, runny nose, constricted pupils (miosis), bronchospasm with a feeling of suffocation, bradycardia down to 30-40 bpm, low blood pressure, intestinal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. In severe cases — collapse, pulmonary edema, risk of cardiac arrest. The antidote is atropine (in hospital, under ECG monitoring). If you suspect poisoning — call 112 or your local emergency number immediately. Keep the mushroom remains and vomit. The prognosis is good with prompt treatment (1-2 hours); without help it is potentially dangerous.
If you suspect poisoning, call an ambulance immediately: 112 (the European emergency number) or your local emergency number
The short answer
Frosty funnel and Ivory funnel look alike, so they're easy to mix up — but Frosty funnel is poisonous, while Ivory funnel is poisonous. The main visible difference: cap color: Frosty funnel — white, cream, pink, Ivory funnel — white, cream. The mushrooms also differ in the following features: substrate. If you have even the slightest doubt, leave the mushroom be.
Frosty funnel
Clitocybe phyllophila
Ivory funnel
Clitocybe dealbata
📊 Comparing characteristics
⚠ Highlighted rows are the key differences between the edible and the dangerous mushroom
| Characteristic | Frosty funnel | Ivory funnel |
|---|---|---|
| Edibility class | Frosty funnel Poisonous | Ivory funnel Poisonous |
| Season | Frosty funnel SummerAutumn | Ivory funnel SummerAutumn |
| Use | Frosty funnel Not eaten | Ivory funnel Not eaten |
| Size | Frosty funnel Small (up to 5 cm) | Ivory funnel Small (up to 5 cm) |
| ⚠ Cap color | Frosty funnel WhiteCreamPink | Ivory funnel WhiteCream |
| Cap shape | Frosty funnel Funnel-shaped | Ivory funnel Funnel-shaped |
| Cap surface | Frosty funnel Smooth | Ivory funnel Smooth |
| Taste | Frosty funnel Mild | Ivory funnel Mild |
| Smell | Frosty funnel Floury | Ivory funnel Floury |
| Flesh color change | Frosty funnel No change | Ivory funnel No change |
| Hymenophore | Frosty funnel Gilled | Ivory funnel Gilled |
| Stem | Frosty funnel Central | Ivory funnel Central |
| Ring (veil) | Frosty funnel No ring | Ivory funnel No ring |
| Volva | Frosty funnel No volva | Ivory funnel No volva |
| ⚠ Substrate | Frosty funnel SoilForest litter | Ivory funnel Soil |
| Nutrition type | Frosty funnel Saprotroph | Ivory funnel Saprotroph |
| ⚠ Partner trees | Frosty funnel OakBeechHornbeamBirch | Ivory funnel — |
📅 Seasonality
Frosty funnel
Fruiting season
August – November
Ivory funnel
Fruiting season
August – November
🔬 Morphology
Cap
Frosty funnel
Cap 3-7 cm across, convex when young, becoming funnel-shaped over time, with a depressed center and a thin wavy margin. Color whitish to cream, with a pale pink or ochre tint in the center and a characteristic silky, waxy sheen. Slightly sticky in wet weather, matte when dry.
Ivory funnel
Cap 2-5 cm across, convex when young, becoming funnel-shaped over time, with a depressed center and a thin wavy margin. Color whitish, cream, with pale gray or ochre patches; silky-sheened in wet weather, chalky white when dry. Surface smooth, with barely visible radial streaks.
Hymenophore
Frosty funnel
Gilled hymenophore. Gills crowded, thin, decurrent down the stem. Color whitish to cream, taking on a pale pink tint with age. Spore print white to pale pinkish-cream.
Ivory funnel
Gilled hymenophore. Gills crowded, thin, decurrent down the stem (a hallmark of the genus Clitocybe). Color whitish to cream. Spore print white.
Stem
Frosty funnel
Stem 3-6 cm tall, 0.4-1 cm thick, cylindrical, often thickening toward the base. Color whitish to cream, with white mycelial fuzz at the base. Surface smooth, no ring.
Ivory funnel
Stem 2-4 cm tall, 0.3-0.8 cm thick, slender, cylindrical, often curved. Color whitish to cream, with white mycelial fuzz at the base. Surface smooth, no ring. Stem flesh firm.
Flesh
Frosty funnel
Flesh thin, white, soft. Does not change color when cut. It has a pleasant sweetish smell and a mild taste — as with other poisonous Clitocybe, the lack of any unpleasant smell makes it all the more treacherous.
Ivory funnel
Flesh thin, white, watery, brittle. Does not change color when cut. It has a faint, pleasant smell (slightly sweet, or mealy according to some guides) and a mild taste — and that is what makes this species so treacherous: it smells and tastes "right", nothing sets off alarm bells.
Smell
Frosty funnel
Sweetish, pleasant. Raises no suspicion. Taste mild. Don't rely on smell or taste for identification — they give no hint of toxicity.
Ivory funnel
Faint and indistinct, slightly sweet; some guides describe it as mealy. This adds to the danger: the smell raises no suspicion. Never rely on smell when identifying mushrooms of this size.
📍 Habitats
Frosty funnel
Ivory funnel
👀 Similar mushrooms — don't mix them up!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can Frosty funnel and Ivory funnel be mixed up?
How to tell Frosty funnel from Ivory funnel?
Which is more dangerous — Frosty funnel or Ivory funnel?
Is Ivory funnel edible?
When do Frosty funnel and Ivory funnel grow?
Sources
- [1]Вікіпедія (українська)
- [2]Атлас грибів України, Зеров Д.К. (1979)
- [3]MycoBank Database
- [4]Index Fungorum
- [5]GBIF
- [6]iNaturalist Ukraine