This little orange-brown wax cap is a frequent find on cropped grassland, particularly among mosses on moorland. The cap is markedly striate across two thirds of its diameter. This waxcap often occurs in quite large clusters in mossy moorland that is continually grazed to a short sward by sheep or ponies; it is inedible.
Cap |
The 1.5 to 3.5 cm diameter domed cap is orange-brown, hemispherical at first but gradually flattening. Deep striations cover the outer two-thirds of the cap, and the margin becomes slightly toothed with age. |
Gills |
At first pale grey but turning salmon pink as the fruit body ages, the gills are slightly decurrent. |
Stipe |
Level; no ring; colour as the cap or slightly paler. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Not distinctive. |
Habitat |
Closely cropped or mown grassland where artificial fertilisers are not spread. |
Season |
August to November. |
Occurrence |
Infrequent. |
Similar species |
- Hygrocybe pratensis is similar in colour but a much bigger and more robust waxcap.
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