Giant Clitocybe
(Clitocybe gigantea)

The giant clitocybe has a huge white to buff cap 4-18 inches across, first convex, then flat, finally funnel-shaped.

The margin begins inrolled and becomes furrowed. I find the odor mildly fishy.

The broad white to buff gills, sometimes forked or branched, and crowded together, descend the stalk. The spore print is white.

The dry, solid, smooth, whitish stalk is 1-4 inches long, 1-2 inches thick.

The mushroom grows in open woods, on disturbed soil, and in gardens, from the middle of the summer through fall, throughout the US.

Although this large mushroom is easy to identify (there just aren't very many mushrooms that get so large, especially white ones with gills descending the stem), it has no flavor, and isn't worth collecting.

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