MushieFuneral bell (Galerina marginata)
Deadly
The funeral bell is a small brown mushroom on rotting wood with a rust-brown spore print. It contains deadly amatoxins and is easy to mistake for edible woodland mushrooms.
| Scientific name | Galerina marginata |
|---|---|
| Other names | Gift-Häubling · Galère marginée · Deadly skullcap |
| Family | Hymenogastraceae |
| Season | Apr – Nov |
| Habitat | Rotting stumps and logs, conifer and broadleaf |
| Range | Northern Hemisphere |
| Spore print | Rusty brown |
| Smell | Mealy, like flour |
How to identify Funeral bell
| Cap | Honey to tawny-brown, 1.5–5 cm, sticky when wet, margin lined when moist |
|---|---|
| Underside | Pale, then rust-brown gills |
| Stem | Brown, fibrous, with a thin ring that often disappears |
| Smell | Mealy, like flour |
| Spore print | Rusty brown |
Is Funeral bell edible or poisonous?
Deadly. Contains the same amatoxins as the death cap. Can cause fatal liver failure.
Funeral bell look-alikes
Can grow alongside honey fungus, sheathed woodtuft and velvet shank.
- Sheathed woodtuft vs funeral bell: a deadly mix-up
- Velvet shank vs funeral bell: winter mushrooms on wood
- Wild enoki vs funeral bell: spore print settles it
When does Funeral bell grow?
Funeral bell is typically found Apr – Nov in rotting stumps and logs, conifer and broadleaf. See other mushrooms in season:
Frequently asked questions
Is Funeral bell edible?
No. Funeral bell (Galerina marginata) is deadly poisonous. Contains the same amatoxins as the death cap. Can cause fatal liver failure. Never eat it, and call emergency services or a poison centre if you think someone has.
What does Funeral bell look like?
Honey to tawny-brown, 1.5–5 cm, sticky when wet, margin lined when moist. Underside: pale, then rust-brown gills. Stem: brown, fibrous, with a thin ring that often disappears.
What are the look-alikes of Funeral bell?
The main look-alikes are Sheathed woodtuft (Kuehneromyces mutabilis) and Velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes) and Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea). Can grow alongside honey fungus, sheathed woodtuft and velvet shank.
When and where does Funeral bell grow?
Funeral bell is usually found from Apr to Nov. Habitat: rotting stumps and logs, conifer and broadleaf. Range: Northern Hemisphere.
Found something like funeral bell?
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Related species
Sources and credits: written from standard field-guide references. Further reading: Wikipedia: Galerina marginata. Last updated 2026-10-22. Editorial policy.