Hygrocybe pratensis - Meadow Waxcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

One of the largest of the waxcap fungi, and commonly known as the Meadow Wax cap, Hygrocybe pratensis is a common find on cropped grassland and upland pastures. It appears from late August until December and is generally considered edible although not highly prized.

In some reference sources you may find this species listed under its synonyms Camarophyllus pratensis or Hygrophorus pratensis.

Identification Guide

	Cap The cap is slightly umbonate, 2 to 7cm in diameter and variable in colour from pale yellowish to buff or sometimes pinkish-red. As the fungus ages so the cap fades and its flesh turns from white to a pinkish buff.
	Gills Thick, broad and distant, the cross-connected white gills are decurrent. With age the gills become more cap coloured. Stem White at first and later cap coloured, the solid stem is stout and becomes hollow with age.
	Spores White (in mass); 5.5 to 6.5 x 4 to 5μm; ellipsoid or tear-shaped to subglobose. Basidia Usually four-spored.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Closely mown grassland where artificial fertilisers have not been spread in large quantities (although this waxcap will tolerate small amounts of fertiliser), and in some sheep-cropped upland pastures, notably near roadsides.
Season	August to December.
Occurrence	Frequent
Similar species	Hygrocybe calyptriformis has a pink pointed cap and the cap invariably splits as it expands.