Hygrocybe mucronella (Fr.) P. Karst.
(Bitter Waxcap)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesHygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
SubgenusPseudohygrocybe (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 mucronella (Bitter Waxcap) :
1: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
12 Oct 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 0’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
in basic grassland below exposure
Image 1: Fruitbody - lain down to show cap and stipe - grey backgroundImage 2: Fruitbody - lain down to show gills and stipe - grey backgroundImage 3: Cap - close-up - enlargedImage 4: Cap - close-up - enlarged (2)Image 5: Gills and stipe apex - close-up - enlarged
2: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
17 Oct 2004 OSGR: TF40 52° 40’ N, 0° 10’ E Vice County: Cambs (VC 29) England
in short grass
Image 1: Caps - in situImage 2: In situImage 3: Side views showing gillsImage 4: Gill and stipe apex - enlargedImage 5: Spores - magnifiedImage 6: Spores - magnified (2)Image 7: Spores - magnified (3)Image 8: Spores - magnified (4)Image 9: Spores - highly magnified
3: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
26 Oct 1998 OSGR: SU49 51° 40’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: CapImage 2: Cap - half dried old specimenImage 3: Cap - LSImage 4: Cap surface - close-upImage 5: Cap - undersideImage 6: FruitbodiesImage 7: FruitbodyImage 8: Fruitbody (2)Image 9: Fruitbody - LSImage 10: Fruitbody - LS (2)Image 11: Fruitbody - undersideImage 12: Fruitbody - underside showing gillsImage 13: GillsImage 14: SporesImage 15: Spores (2)Image 16: Spores (3)Image 17: Spores (4)Image 18: Spores (5)
4: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
8 Oct 1998 OSGR: SU46 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: CapImage 2: CapsImage 3: Caps (2)Image 4: FruitbodiesImage 5: Fruitbodies (2)Image 6: Fruitbodies (3)Image 7: Fruitbodies - undersideImage 8: Fruitbody - uppersideImage 9: Fruitbody - upperside (2)Image 10: GillsImage 11: Gills (2)Image 12: SporesImage 13: Spores (2)Image 14: Spores (3)
5: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
29 Sep 1979 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
Image 1: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 2: Description
6: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
5 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
Image 1: Fruitbody - half dry - side view - in situImage 2: Fruitbodies - side view - lain down - enlargedImage 3: Fruitbody - moist - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 4: Fruitbody - side view - lain down - enlargedImage 5: Description
7: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
4 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
in moss (Pseudoscleropodium purum) in heathy bit
Image 1: Description
8: Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap)
4 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
in Ulex minor and short turf
Image 1: Description

Hygrocybe mucronella (Bitter Waxcap) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

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

A small, reddish to orange waxcap, which is at first viscid or greasy on both cap and stem, but soon dry at least on the cap. Gills deep orange. The bitter taste and irregularly-shaped spores are diagnostic. The toadstool is uncommon but widespread occurring in small troops in grassland, unfertilised lawns, fixed dunes and on rich soil in rich deciduous scrub and woodland. It was formely known as Hygrocybe reai.

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