A confusion of Waxcaps

Fungus Ken · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 05:28 PM

Following the interesting post of Hygrocybe psittacina found growing in a cave, I was just glancing at the Hygrocybe species in the A-Z list to see which species we had listed...

... and what a sorry mess we have.

This is not surprising given that Waxcaps, in spite of their distinctive appearance, are actually quite difficult to narrow down to species.

A few comments on the photos in the list:

Hygrocybe chlorophana - doesn't look typical. Looks more like a faded Parrot Waxcap with hints of green colour.

Hygrocybe citrina - is not a recognised name in Britain.

Hygrocybe coccinea - the photo does not show this species.

Hygrocybe flavescens - is not a recognised name in Britain.

Hygrocybe pratensis - the photo is not representative of the characters of this species.

Hygrocybe punicea - the photo does not show this species. It looks like Hygrocybe conica

Hygrocybe strangulata - is not a recognised name in Britain.

Not a very impressive hit rate.

When I have time I'll try to post some correctly named Waxcaps in the Gallery, although they will be reference shots rather than aesthetic ones. There are some correctly named photos in the Gallery, some of which are attractive in-situ shots.

If someone (Cybershot perhaps?) has time to tackle the Waxcaps in the A-Z list this would save me ranting again at some future point!

Ken

cybershot · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 06:08 PM

A similar situation to when I tried to tackle Panaeolus/Panaeolina recently and I have no doubt it isn't the last of these problems, but with a bit of help I'll have ago and slowly and surely we'll get there in the end. Thanks for the heads up Ken.

David

The biggest problem when starting the spade work of editing the existing entries is knowing whether or not the images, uploaded by all and sundry, are verified and correctly named according to the BC checklist. It certainly helps to have someone with Ken's experience checking out the misfits. If there's not available time to do a full edit, a short comment to that effect in the Additional Notes of such entries would be a great help. Then when I see it I'll try and sort it.

Moreover if you have a suitable verified reference shot please post it in the Gallery, indicate this in the Note, and I will retrieve it for the appropriate entry.

Many thanks.

Fungus Ken · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Thanks for that David.

I realise I am passing the buck on the A-Z list but my time on WAB is already rationed (by a higher authority

) and I can't really justify the time to start making edits. If I get a bit of time I may add the occasional note.

However, I have just posted some Waxcap images which are all verified and could be used at some point in the A-Z list. I've reached my limit of 10 image posts for today. I'll aim to post a few more when I next have a chunk of time to spare. They seem to take an age to upload on my laptop.

Ken

cybershot · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

Thanks for that David.

I realise I am passing the buck on the A-Z list but my time on WAB is already rationed (by a higher authority

) and I can't really justify the time to start making edits. If I get a bit of time I may add the occasional note.

However, I have just posted some Waxcap images which are all verified and could be used at some point in the A-Z list. I've reached my limit of 10 image posts for today. I'll aim to post a few more when I next have a chunk of time to spare. They seem to take an age to upload on my laptop.

Ken

The four you've verified have been added and I'll fill out the detail later. I appreciate any amount of help of this nature and its nice to know these entries will stand up to informed scrutiny.

Many thanks

David

BTW - Excellent photos!

Fungus Ken · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:41 PM

My images tend to be taken to capture the important identification features, rather than to achieve a beautiful shot. The last few times I was looking at waxcaps I was in sheep-grazed fields and the sheep had trampled a lot of the mushrooms. So I ended up hunting around to gather together several of the least smashed-up specimens to capture a few reference images.

FungiJohn's images on the other hand tend to be astonishingly beautiful and must take a good deal of time and care to get them just right. Here are a couple of examples that I think ought to be in the A-Z list. There will be more but I don't have time to look now.

Scarlet Waxcap - Hygrocybe coccinea

Crimson Waxcap - Hygrocybe punicea

Ken

cybershot · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

My images tend to be taken to capture the important identification features, rather than to achieve a beautiful shot. The last few times I was looking at waxcaps I was in sheep-grazed fields and the sheep had trampled a lot of the mushrooms. So I ended up hunting around to gather together several of the least smashed-up specimens to capture a few reference images.

FungiJohn's images on the other hand tend to be astonishingly beautiful and must take a good deal of time and care to get them just right. Here are a couple of examples that I think ought to be in the A-Z list. There will be more but I don't have time to look now.

Scarlet Waxcap - Hygrocybe coccinea

Crimson Waxcap - Hygrocybe punicea

Ken

Couldn't agree more and I will do the necessary.

Thanks for all the assistance.

David

Edited to say all recent verified entries added to A to Z and misfits have been annotated ready for sorting when I have more time. Higher authority has opened a bottle of wine and is clamouring for my company

FungiJohn · #7 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 10:41 AM

Thanks for your very kind comments Ken it's much appreciated.
John

Fungus Ken · #8 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 12:08 PM

You're welcome and it is deserved. And I can assure you it isn't part of some clandestine plot to encourage you to set up a WAB foray and show me all your secret locations for rare and exciting species... honest guv.

Ken