Hygrocybe cantharellus - Goblet Waxcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

The specific epithet suggests that the caps will be infundibuliform and indeed sometimes they are – hence the common name Goblet Waxcap; however, more often than not the caps remain convex or merely become flat. If you look underneath you will see that the gills are decurrent, giving these waxcaps goblet-like silhouettes (even though there is little or no room for the wine!). Despite their liking for boggy grassland, the caps of Goblet Waxcaps are dry and scaly rather than greasy or viscid.

Occasionally seen singly, more often these neat little mushrooms grow in small clusters.

Identification Guide

Cap	1 to 3.5cm across; initially convex, becoming flat-topped and eventually developing a slight depression; various shades of reddish-orange, scales drying to almost white; incurved margin becomes crenate at maturity and is usually paler than the rest of the cap.
	Gills Slightly decurrent (as shown here) to deeply decurrent; initially almost white, becoming yellow. Stem 3 to 6cm long and 1.5 to 3mm dia.; dry and silkily fibrillose; orange, becoming paler towards base; cylindrical; no ring.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Closely cropped or mown grassland where artificial fertilisers are not spread.
Season	September to November.
Occurrence	Uncommon.
Similar species	Hygrocybe coccinea has a larger orange-red cap. Hygrocybe miniata also has a scurfy reddish cap; it is usually a bit smaller that the Goblet Waxcap and its gills are adnately attached to the stem rather than being decurrent.