Hygrocybe calyptriformis - Pink Waxcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

One of the most beautiful waxcap fungi, and now sadly rather rare, Hygrocybe calyptriformis is found on cropped, unfertilised grassland. It occurs in late summer and autumn.

These lovely waxcaps generally occur as solitary specimens or in very small and scattered groups. Occasionally they can be found in churchyards, but sheep-grazed upland commons on acidic soils are usually the best places to try.

Identification Guide

	Cap The domed cap, 2.5 to 6cm in diameter, is pale pink or lilac and at first narrowly conical. As it matures, the cap usually splits. The cap flesh is white but tinged pink just below the cuticle.
	Gills Rose pink when young, the closely-spaced adnate gills become paler with age. Stem The same colour as the cap, and tending to split very easily. Level; no ring; white stem flesh.
	Spores White (in mass); 6 to 9 x 4 to 7μm, broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid-oblong. Basidia Usually four-spored.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Closely cropped or mown grassland where artificial fertilisers are not spread.
Season	September to November.
Occurrence	Rare.
Similar species	This is the only truly pink waxcap. Hygrocybe virginea is white with a broader cap.