Hygrocybe punicea (Fr.) P. Kumm.
(Crimson Waxcap)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesHygrocybe punicea (Crimson 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 punicea (Crimson Waxcap) :
1: Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap)
13 Oct 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 10’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
on short grassland . Photos: Fruitbodies - in situ - nice photos
Image 1: Fruitbodies - in situ - side view with grass pulled back to show stipesImage 2: Fruitbody - in situ - top view
2: Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap)
13 Oct 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: FruitbodyImage 2: Fruitbody (2)Image 3: Fruitbody (3)Image 4: Fruitbody (4)Image 5: GillsImage 6: Gills and cap margin - close-upImage 7: StipeImage 8: Stipe (2)Image 9: Stipe (3)Image 10: Young fruitbodyImage 11: Young fruitbody - LS
3: Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap)
1 Oct 1985 OSGR: SU26 51° 20’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
in deep lawn
Image 1: Caps - side views - lain downImage 2: Fruitbodies - in situ - oblique viewImage 3: Fruitbodies - side views - lain downImage 4: Fruitbodies - side views - lain down (2)Image 5: Fruitbody - old and faded - top viewImage 6: Fruitbody - side view - lain downImage 7: Fruitbody - side view - lain down (2)Image 8: Gills - close-up - enlargedImage 9: DescriptionImage 10: Description - contd
4: Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap)
29 Oct 1983 OSGR: SU26 51° 20’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
in grass
Image 1: Fruitbody - side view - in situ - base exposedImage 2: Fruitbody - side view - lain downImage 3: Fruitbody - side view showing gills - lain downImage 4: Long cells from gill edge - magnifiedImage 5: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 6: DescriptionImage 7: Description - contd
5: Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap)
19 Dec 1970 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Fruitbodies - side view - in situ

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Holden, L. 2013 Can higher plant surveys be used to pick out important waxcap grassland sites in conservation assessment projects? Field Mycology Vol 14 (4): 120-123.

Hygrocybe punicea (Crimson Waxcap) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

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

This is the largest waxcap and its sticky, deep red caps, the colour of dried blood, are the best indicator of unimproved grassland. The gills are narrowly adnate and the stipe coarsely fibrillose. It grows in unfertilised grassland and fixed dunes.

1286

A good indicator for very long continuity of unfertilised grassland

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