Hygrophorus eburneus - Ivory Woodwax

Hygrophorus hypothejus - Herald of Winter

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Fairly common on woodland edges, the Ivory Waxcap is mycorrhizal with Beech trees and with oaks. These woodwax fungi seem to be fairly tolerant of soil disturbance, as they sometimes appear on muddy tree-lined roadside verges.

The picture on the left is shown countesy of David Adamson.

Identification Guide

Cap	White or ivory; convex, becoming flat; very slimy; 3 to 7cm across.
	Gills White; distant; decurrent.
Stem	White; tapering slightly towards base; usually curved; 4 to 7cm long, 0.5 to 1cm dia.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Said by some authorities to smell like injured larvae of the Goat Moth, Cossus cossus, from which this woodwax’s synonymous name Hygrophorus cossus originated. How anyone comes to be an expert on such odours I must leave to your imagination! Hygrophorus cossus is considered by some authors to be a separate species.
Habitat	Under Beeches and oaks.
Season	June to November.
Occurrence	Fairly common.
Similar species	The Snowy Waxcap, Hygrocybe virginea, is a common and gregarious little grassland mushroom with a white or ivory cap.