Paralepistopsis amoenolens

Paralepistopsis amoenolens, commonly known as the paralysis funnel,[1] is an agaric fungus ascribed to the large genus Clitocybe. It was originally described from Morocco in 1975 as Clitocybe amoenolens by the French mycologist Malençon. It was discovered to be poisonous after several people had consumed specimens all found in the alpine Maurienne valley in the Savoie department over three years. They had mistaken it for the edible common funnel cap (Infundibulicybe sp.) or Paralepista flaccida (formerly Lepista inversa).[2]

Clitocybe amoenolens
float Mycological characteristics
	gills on hymenium
	cap is depressed
	stipe is bare
	spore print is white
	ecology is saprotrophic
	edibility: poisonous

In 2012, following DNA analysis, Vizzini and Ercole assigned this species to the new genus Paralepistopsis, which forms a separate clade from other Clitocybes.[3] This change has been accepted by Species Fungorum and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and so the correct name is currently Paralepistopsis amoenolens.[4][5]

A similar species from Japan, C. acromelalga, known as the poison dwarf bamboo mushroom, had been discovered to be poisonous in 1918.[6]

The resulting syndrome of fungus-induced erythromelalgia lasted from 8 days to 5 months, although one person exhibited symptoms for three years.[7]