Lilac Dapperling
Cystolepiota bucknallii
Cystolepiota bucknallii is a species of basidiomycete fungus of the genus Cystolepiota. Found throughout Europe, it is a rare fungus occurring in deciduous forests.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystolepiota_bucknallii
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Agaricaceae
Genus
Cystolepiota
Lilac Dapperling belongs to the family Agaricaceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Cystolepiota bucknallii is a species of basidiomycete fungus of the genus Cystolepiota. Found throughout Europe, it is a rare fungus occurring in deciduous forests. The small fruit bodies bear a distinctive smell of coal gas and appear in autumn on damp ground. It is not an edible mushroom.
The Lilac Dapperling faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range. Climate change and pollution further threaten the specific soil and vegetation conditions this rare fungus requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
C. bucknallii has been recorded in various countries in central and northern Europe including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Russia. It is a terrestrial decomposer which occurs in deciduous forests with moist, calcareous soils rich in nutrients and especially nitrogen. Fruit bodies appear in autumn.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Lilac Dapperling faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range. Climate change and pollution further threaten the specific soil and vegetation conditions this rare fungus requires for survival.
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Limited dispersal ability and small population size
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change altering soil conditions
Pollution affecting soil chemistry
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lilac Dapperling (Cystolepiota bucknallii). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lilac-dapperling