Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 7978027

Tawny Funnel Cap

Paralepista flaccida

Also known as Tawny Funnel, Flaccid Funnel

Tawny funnel caps carpet temperate woodland floors in late summer and autumn, decomposing dense layers of pine needles and decaying leaf litter. Their fruiting bodies transition from broadly convex cushions into deeply depressed funnels boasting warm apricot, ochre, or reddish-buff hues. Mycelial colonies often spread outward in expanding subterranean arcs, generating conspicuous fairy rings that persist for decades.

FungusSaprobicWoodland
Tawny Funnel Cap reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Leaf litter
  • Conifer needles
  • Soil humus
Predators
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Slugs
  • Wood mice
ThreatsSevere soil compaction, clear-cutting, extensive litter removal
HabitatsConiferous and mixed forests, broadleaf woodlands, parks, hedgerows
Life spanPerennial mycelium; individual fruiting bodies persist 1–2 weeks
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyTricholomataceae
  3. GenusParalepista
  4. SpeciesParalepista flaccida
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Check Spore Color: Make a spore print on dark paper to reveal the pale creamy-buff to pinkish tint.
  • Observe Needle Litter: Scan conifer needle carpets in late autumn where rings of funnels are easiest to spot.
Related species
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