Contents
The wax hygrocybe mushroom has a bright attractive appearance, especially noticeable against the background of green summer grass. Its fruiting body is regular and symmetrical. A characteristic feature of the fungus is its ability to change its shape under the influence of moisture.
What does wax hygrocibe look like
The size of the fruiting body is relatively small – the cap is up to 4 cm in diameter, the stem is up to 5 cm in length. But these are record numbers. Mostly there are specimens with a cap size of not more than 1 cm, and legs of about 2-3 cm.
The thickness of the leg reaches 0.4 mm. It is very fragile, because it is hollow, and the consistency of the pulp is loose. The leg ring is missing.
The fruit body is completely smooth, without any roughness or inclusions.
The upper part of the cap is covered with a thin layer of mucus. The flesh of the fruiting body is the same color as the integuments. It has practically no taste and smell.
The color of this species is almost always yellow or yellow-orange. In some cases, there is a change in color: the hat may fade and become lighter. The leg, on the contrary, becomes dark.
In young specimens in the stage of active growth, the shape of the cap is convex. As it matures, it becomes almost flat. Adult and overripe fruiting bodies have caps in the form of a miniature bowl with a depression in the middle.
A feature of Wax hygrocybe is its ability to accumulate moisture, which leads to swelling of the fruiting body.
The hymenophore has a lamellar structure. It is quite rare, especially for a mushroom of such a miniature size. Hymenophore plates are mainly attached to the stem. Spores ovoid, smooth. Their color is white. Fruiting occurs in summer and autumn.
This species has several twins that are not poisonous. They differ from Wax hygrocybe in size and color. In all other respects, the varieties are very similar. So, for example, hyrgocybe meadow has a more saturated orange color. In addition, it is always found in large groups.
Another twin is a crimson hygrocybe, has a longer leg (up to 8 cm), etc.
Hygrocybe has a rounded oak hat
Where does hygrocybe Wax grow?
In the Northern Hemisphere, it grows almost everywhere in temperate and subtropical climate zones. In Asia, the mushroom is quite difficult to find, and it is not found in Australia, Africa and South America.
In nature, the wax hygrocybe can be found both singly and in large groups of up to several dozen specimens. Prefers moist soils with an abundance of vegetation. In forests, it is common in the shade of trees among mosses. It also occurs in meadows with tall grass.
Is it possible to eat hygrocibe Wax
This species has been studied relatively poorly, so it is currently impossible to make judgments about its edibility or toxicity. Modern mycology classifies it as inedible. There have been no cases of fatal poisoning by ingestion.
Since these species are very similar to each other, in order not to be mistaken, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with their appearance and habitats.
Conclusion
Hygrocybe Wax is a miniature mushroom from the Hygrophoraceae family. In Europe and North America, it is ubiquitous in temperate climates. It prefers to grow in deciduous forests, but it can also be in meadows with a sufficient level of moisture and high vegetation. Refers to inedible.
