Gliophorus psittacinus (Schaeff.) Herink
(Parrot Waxcap)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesGliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
GenusGliophorus (a genus of waxcaps)
FamilyHYGROPHORACEAE (waxcaps and woodwaxes)
OrderAGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap) :
1: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
29 Sep 2004 OSGR: SX76 50° 30’ N, 3° 50’ W Vice County: South Devon (VC 3) England
46 fruitbodies in 3m diam half-ring in grass
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbodies - in situImage 3: Group of fruitbodiesImage 4: Side views showing cap - close-upImage 5: Side views showing gills - close-up
2: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
21 Sep 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: Cap - dried cap with strong yellow colourationImage 2: Cap - older faded cap with central pinkish tingeImage 3: Cap - young specimen with strong green colourationImage 4: FruitbodyImage 5: Fruitbody (2)Image 6: Fruitbody (3)Image 7: Fruitbody - LSImage 8: Fruitbody - LS showing gillsImage 9: Fruitbody - side viewImage 10: Fruitbody - side-viewImage 11: GillsImage 12: Gills (2)
3: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
23 Sep 1980 OSGR: SU18 51° 30’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
old sheep-grazed downland on steep N-facing slope
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbodies - oblique view - close-up - in situImage 3: Fruitbodies - side views showing gills - lain downImage 4: Fruitbodies - top view - in situImage 5: Cap cuticle hyphae - magnifiedImage 6: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 7: DescriptionImage 8: Description - contd
4: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
4 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
Bright green specimens, in short rabbit-grazed turf
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situImage 3: Description
5: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
29 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in horse-grazed pasture
Image 1: Fruitbodies - fresh - side view - in situ - bases exposedImage 2: Fruitbodies - fresh - side view - in situ - bases exposed (2)Image 3: DescriptionImage 4: Description - contd
6: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
29 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in horse-grazed pasture
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbody - side view showing gills - lain downImage 3: DescriptionImage 4: Description - contd
7: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
18 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grass at side of path through clearing
Image 1: Description
8: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
23 Oct 1977 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grassland
Image 1: Fruitbody - side view - lain downImage 2: Fruitbodies - top view - in situ - enlargedImage 3: Fruitbody - side view - lain down - enlarged
9: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
27 Sep 1974 OSGR: SK27 53° 10’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
under oak
Image 1: Fruitbodies - top view - in situ
10: Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
23 Dec 1971 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Fruitbody - cap and stipe separated to show gillsImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situImage 3: Fruitbody - side view - in situ (2)

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Ainsworth, A.M., Cannon, P.F. & Dentinger, B.T.M. 2013 DNA barcoding and morphological studies reveal two new species of waxcap mushrooms (Hygrophoraceae) in Britain Mycokeys Vol 7: 45-62.
Kibby, G. 2001 Fungal Portraits, No. 5: Hygrocybe psittacina Field Mycology Vol 2 (1): 3-4.

Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap)

A small to medium-sized waxcap with viscid cap and stem. Green colours are present at least at the stem apex which is unique among European Hygrocybe species. There are usually also shades of yellow or orange and sometimes pink or even blue. It grows gregariously in unfertilised grassland and lawns, fixed dunes, roadsides and sometimes deciduous woodland and scrub. It is very common and widespread.

3205

Little indicator value as it is more tolerant of fertilizers than other species of waxcaps.

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