One of the smaller species of red waxcap fungi, Hygrocybe
coccinea - the Scarlet Hood - 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 fruitbody 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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