Waxcaps (Hygrocybe s.l.)
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Crimson waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea) ©Per Fadnes
Waxcaps in the genus Hygrocybe s.l. are distinguished from the genus Hygrophorus due to different ecology. Hygrocybe waxcaps grows mainly in semi-natural grasslands, while Hygrophorus waxcaps grows normally in forests and are fungi with mycorrhiza. The Hygrocybe waxcaps are often characterized by strong colors. Many grow in clusters and lighten up the cultural landscape with their colorful presence. The colors range from different shades of red, orange, yellow and green as well as some species with grey to brownish colors. An important characteristic of the waxcaps is the thick usually remote and "waxy" gills that separate them from many other gill-fungi and is an important characteristic. However, the waxcaps are not always easy to separate, because different species can have similar colors. Therefore, other criteria become important to determine the right species. Both caps and stems can have surfaces varying from viscid to dry in different species. Some species have squamulose or scaly hat while others are hygrophane (changing color depending on the dry or humid climate). The scales are not always as easy to detect. The stem can be smooth or fibrillose. The gills may have different colors, and the attachment to the stem is often an important feature. Some species are reddening, especially on the gills when they are damaged. Some species have a special smell that is often very characteristic and separate them from similar species. The smells include honey (H. reidii and H. splendidissima), juniper (Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus) or chlorine (Neohygrocybe nitrata and N. ingrata). Microscopically, size and shape of spores are often used to discriminate between similar-looking species. Many species have more or less constricted spores, but this is not always an easy feature. Some species can be separated from others on the hypha- structure of the gills. Waxcaps is divided into 4 subgenera (Boertman 2010), and species in the subgenera Hygrocybe have hypha-cells in the gills with size up to 1000 μm while the other species have much smaller cells. This can be an important character to distinguish some yellow species that can easily be mixed in the field. To day the systematic of the genus Hygrocybe has changed, and is now separated into several genera.
Hygrocybe s.l.
has lately been split up into a series of new genera due to DNA-sequencing (Lodge et
al. 2014).
Hygrocybe is still the largest genera and contains most of the
colorful species. The other species discussed in this webpage has ended up in
the following genera: Neohygrocybe: H. ovina, H. ingrata, H. nitrata Cuphophyllus: H. pratensis, H. colemanniana,
H. flavipes, H. lacmus,
H. fornicate, H. virginea, H.
russocoriacea. Gliophorus: H. Psittacina, H. Irrigata,
H. laeta Chromocera: H. citrinopallida Gloioxanthomyces: H. vitellina Ecology Waxcaps are found mainly in the seminatural grasslands and meadows. Some are also found in forests that earlier were grasslands. They can also occur in coastal meadows and coastal heath. Many of these are natural habitats currently classified as endangered (EN) (Norderhaug and Johansen 2011). Most seem to thrive best in lower altitudes, but some also grow in grasslands at higher altitudes. Most of the waxcaps appear to be very sensitive to fertilization, but some seems to be more tolerant (H. conica, H. psittacina, H. laeta). Some waxcapst apparently prefer base-rich soil (H. colemanniana, H. citrinovirens, H. russocoriacea), while others are good indicators of old more acid grasslands (H. splendidissima). However, many appear to have no major requirements for pH value, but are more dependent on long continuity, absence of fertilizer and other types of soil cultivation. Many waxcaps are on the Norwegian Red List (Branderud et al. 2010) and the red lists of a number of other European countries. They are therefore good indicators for valuable grasslands and meadows. |
References:
Brandrud TE, Bendiksen E, Hofton
TH, Høiland K, Jordal JB. 2010. Sopp
Fungi. I Kålås
JA, Viken Å, Henriksen S, Skjelseth S, (red). Norsk
rødliste for arter 2010.
Boertman, D. 2010, The genus Hygrocybe, 2nd
revised edition. Fungi of
Northern Europe vol. 1 Svampetryk, Danmark.
Lodge DJ, Padamsee M, Matheny PB, Aime MC, et al. 2014. Molecular
phylogeny, pigment chemistry and ecology in Hygrophoraceae (Agaricales)
Norderhaug, A, Johansen, L. (2011) Kulturmark og boreal hei – I:
Lindegard,
A, Henriksen, S. (red) 2011.
Norsk rødliste for naturtyper
2011.
Artsdatabanken, Trondheim.