Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Leucopaxillus
Species: L. giganteus
Binomial name: Leucopaxillus giganteus
Synonyms: Agaricus giganteus, Aspropaxillus giganteus, Clitocybe gigantea, Omphalia geotropa var. gigantea, Paxillus giganteus.
Common name: Giant leucopax, Giant clitocybe. Giant funnel.
Leucopaxillus giganteus is an uncommon worldwide species of saprobic fungus with a cap that can reach a diameter of up to 45 cm. The funnel-shaped cap is white/pale cream and has cream gills which run down the stem. The spore print is white.
The stem is typically 4 to 6cm tall and 2 to 3cm in diameter. It is initially creamy white, turning a buff colour.
It is typically found in late summer to late autumn, growing in groups or rings in grassy pastures, roadside hedges, or woodland edges.
Leucopaxillus giganteus contains a number of bioactive compounds, one of which has displayed antibiotic and anti-tumour properties in laboratory tests.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
