Hygrocybe conica var conica (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
(Blackening Waxcap)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
VarietyHygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
SpeciesHygrocybe conica (Blackening Waxcap)
SubgenusHygrocybe ss. (a subgenus of waxcaps)
GenusHygrocybe (waxcaps, waxcap mushrooms)
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 Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap) :
1: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
10 Oct 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 0’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
in semi-improved grassland . Photos: Darkened fruitbody resembling H. spadicea
Image 1: Fruitbody - darkened and resembling H. spadicea - in situ
2: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
29 Sep 2004 OSGR: SX76 50° 30’ N, 3° 50’ W Vice County: South Devon (VC 3) England
2 fruitbodies, in grass
Image 1: Cap - in situ - close-upImage 2: ComposedImage 3: Gills - close-up
3: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
8 Jul 1998 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: CapImage 2: Cap - LSImage 3: Cap surface - close-upImage 4: Cut stipe (fresh), underside of cap and gillsImage 5: Cut stipe (several minutes later)Image 6: Fruitbodies (A, B, & C)Image 7: Fruitbody (A)Image 8: Fruitbody (B)Image 9: Fruitbody (B) (2)Image 10: Fruitbody (C)Image 11: Fruitbody (C) (2)Image 12: Fruitbody - LS
4: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
14 Oct 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
young fruitbody
Image 1: Young fruitbodyImage 2: Young fruitbody (2)Image 3: Young fruitbody - LS
5: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
21 Oct 1980 OSGR: SU38 51° 30’ N, 1° 30’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
in Brachypodium on N-facing downland
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situ - base exposedImage 3: Fruitbody - side view - lain downImage 4: Fruitbody - side view showing gills - lain downImage 5: Cap cuticle cells - microscope low magnificationImage 6: Cap cuticle cell - tip - highly magnifiedImage 7: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 8: DescriptionImage 9: Description - larger specimensImage 10: Description - smaller specimens
6: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
21 Oct 1980 OSGR: SU38 51° 30’ N, 1° 30’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
in Brachypodium on N-facing downland
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situImage 3: DescriptionImage 4: Description - contd
7: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
11 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU82 51° 0’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
amongst grass
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: DescriptionImage 3: Description - contd
8: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
5 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
in short scrubby grass
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 3: Description
9: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
19 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU96 51° 30’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in field amongst short grass
Image 1: Fruitbody - old, discolored - side view - lain downImage 2: Fruitbody - old, discoloured - side view - lain downImage 3: DescriptionImage 4: Description - contd
10: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
19 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU96 51° 30’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in field amongst short grass
Image 1: Fruitbody - young - side view - in situImage 2: Fruitbody - young - side view - lain downImage 3: DescriptionImage 4: Description - contd
11: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
19 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU96 51° 30’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in field amongst short grass
Image 1: Description
12: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening 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 woodland clearing
Image 1: Description
13: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
18 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grass at side of woodland path
Image 1: Fruitbody - side view - lain downImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 3: Description
14: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
18 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grassland
Image 1: Description
15: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening 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 - in situImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - lain down
16: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
23 Oct 1977 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grassland
Image 1: Fruitbody - young - side view - lain downImage 2: Fruitbody - young - side view - in situ - enlarged
17: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening 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 - in situ
18: Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
26 Sep 1975 OSGR: SD77 54° 10’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Mid-west Yorks (VC 64) England
in short scrubby grass
Image 1: Fruitbodies - side view - in situ - base exposedImage 2: Fruitbodies - side views - lain downImage 3: Fruitbodies - top view - in situImage 4: Fruitbody - old, blackened - side view - in situImage 5: Fruitbody - side view - lain down

Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Hygrocybe conica var conica (Blackening Waxcap)

A very common and widespread waxcap. It has a greater tolerance of disturbance and fertiliser residue than most other waxcaps and is among the first to establish on abandoned fields. It is very variable but always with a +/- conical cap and the entire fruitbody becoming black when handled. Found solitarily or in small groups in grassland, fixed dunes, marshes, deciduous woodland, scrub, roadsides and lawns as well as arctic-alpine grassland, dwarf scrub heaths and riverbanks. Until recently a separate species, Hygrocybe nigrescens, was recognised on the basis of colour and fruitbody and spore size but the distinction is now felt to be untenable.

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