Saturday, 04 February 2012

Pink Waxcap

Facts
Common Name: 
Pink Waxcap
Scientific Name: 
Hygrocybe calyptriformis var. calyptriformis
Also Known As: 
Hygrophorus calyptriformis
Cap Diameter (mm): 
25-60mm
Stem Height (mm): 
50-8-mm
Stem Diameter (mm): 
5-10mm
Information
Description: 

A smallish pinkish-lilac fungus with a greasy, conical ca, usually found growing solitary on soil in short or mown grassland.

Distribution: 

Infrequent fromlate Summer to Autumn.

Habitat: 

Habitat: On soil in unimproved grassland, including open glades in woodland. Notes: Occasional but widespread and may be locally frequent. In Britain, far too great an emphasis has been placed on the supposed rarity of this species although it is useful as an indicator of old grassland habitats. Conservation Status: Vulnerable (Red Data List, ed. 1); BAP species; Biodiversity Action Plan

Cap: 

Rose coloured with a lilac tinge, initially narrowly conical, then more campanulate, greasy, finely radially fibrilose with the cap margin splitting with age.

Flesh: 

Cap flesh is thin and white,  tinged pink below the cuticle, stem flesh is also white, stuffed becoming hollow with age.

Gills: 

Adnexed, broad, close with crenulate edges, rose coloured when young, becoming more pallid on maturity.

Stem: 

Stoutish, more or less equal, ring absent, concolorous with the cap or slightly paler, finely fibrilose.

Additional Notes: 

Now removed from the UK BAP list as it is considered more common than first thought when added to the list