One of the smaller species of red wax cap fungi, Hygrocybe
coccinea is an infrequent find on cropped grassland and in woodland
clearings. It occurs from late summer to early winter.
Cap |
2 to 5 cm in diameter, the cap is blood red and the cap flesh orange. |
Gills |
Yellow, reddening as the fruit body ages;
weakly adnexed or sometimes free; fairly crowded compared with most other
wax caps. |
Stipe |
Red or orange; often a little paler than the cap. Level; no ring; pale
orange stem flesh; 5 to 8 mm diameter and 3 to 6 cm 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.
- Hygrocybe nigrescens turns black with age or when cut.
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