Paralepista flaccida

Sowerby's illustration which is part of the original definition of P. flaccida

The naming history of this mushroom is complicated by the fact that for a long time it was regarded as two different species, "flaccida" (associated with broad-leaved trees) and "inversa" (associated with conifers and with a smoother shinier cap). These forms can still be differentiated as varieties within P. flaccida if desired.[2] The earliest description was by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1772 as Agaricus inversus in his book Flora Carniolica,[3] then in 1799 James Sowerby created a description under the name Agaricus flaccidus in his major work "Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms".[4] In later years there were defined the combinations Clitocybe flaccida (by Paul Kummer, 1871), Clitocybe inversa (by Lucien Quélet, 1872), and Lepista flaccida and Lepista inversa (by Narcisse Patouillard, 1887).[5] There followed long-standing confusion over whether Clitocybe or Lepista was the appropriate genus.

Using molecular analysis, in 2012 Alfredo Vizzini published a paper showing (with a detailed phylogram) that these mushrooms together with Lepista gilva form a clade which is separate from other Lepista species (such as Lepista nuda) and also from Clitocybe species (such as Clitocybe fragrans). Jörg H. Raithelhuber had already proposed the name Paralepista as a genus for those mushrooms in 1981, this had become accepted as a subgenus only, and Vizzini accordingly adopted the same name at the genus level.[6][7] The new genus is recognized by Species Fungorum,[5] and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility,[8] but not necessarily in derivative databases such as the Encyclopedia of Life.

Older mushroom references generally listed the flaccida and inversa forms as separate species,[9] but modern authorities merge them into one.[10][2][11][8][5]

In English P. flaccida is sometimes called the tawny funnel cap.[12]

Var. flaccida

Paralepista flaccida Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is depressed
	Hymenium is decurrent
	Stipe is bare
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is not recommended or edible

The following sections use the given references throughout.[13][10][11][9]

Similar species

Paralepista gilva

The inversa form is sometimes regarded as a separate species, in which case it is distinguished because it grows under conifers rather than broad-leaved trees, has a shinier cap surface, and is more rigid (less flaccid).

Both forms are closely allied to Paralepista gilva (also edible) which can be identified by its yellower cap and stem, and the presence of dark spots on the cap surface.[11] P. flaccida is also similar to the edible Infundibulicybe gibba which has thinner flesh, less crowded gills, and (microscopically) smooth teardrop-shaped spores.[2]

More worrying for consumers of this species is the resemblance to the poisonous Paralepistopsis amoenolens, which however seems to be limited in distribution to North Africa, southern France and southern Italy. P. amoenolens has a strong characteristic smell, a beige colour, and a less depressed cap; also the spores are smooth.[2]

According to Marcel Bon this is a good edible mushroom,[13] but other commentators are less enthusiastic, regarding it as poor.[14][12] In relevant regions care should be taken to avoid confusion with Paralepistopsis amoenolens. At least one source says that it is not recommended for consumption.[15]

Relating to pest control, a substance called clitolactone or 5-(chloromethyl)-3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, which is claimed to inhibit banana slug feeding behaviour, has been isolated from P. flaccida.[16]

An article in Nature Communications reports that an extract of this mushroom, with active constituent 2,6-diaminopurine, can correct RNA nonsense mutations and so may be a candidate to help treatment of certain genetic diseases.[17]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepista flaccida.

• Paralepista flaccida in Index Fungorum
• "Paralepista flaccida". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).