Hygrocybe coccinea - Scarlet Waxcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

One of the smaller species of red waxcap fungi, Hygrocybe coccinea - the Scarlet Waxcap or Scarlet Hood - is an infrequent find on cropped grassland and in woodland clearings.

The Scarlet Waxcap fruits from late summer to early winter, and is often confused with Hygrocybe punicea, the Crimson Waxcap, which is typically larger, has a darker red cap and is much less common.

Identification Guide

	Cap 2 to 5cm in diameter, the cap is blood red and the cap flesh orange.
Gills	Yellow, reddening as the fruitbody ages; weakly adnexed or sometimes free; fairly crowded compared with most other waxcaps.
Stem	Red or orange; often a little paler than the cap. Level; no ring; pale orange stem flesh; 5 to 8mm diameter and 3 to 6cm tall.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Woodland clearings and closely cropped or mown grassland where artificial fertilisers are not spread.
Season	September to November.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Hygrocybe conica has a more pointed cap and yellow stem flesh; it turns black rapidly with age or when cut.