Is Witch's hat Toxic to Dogs?

Witch's hat Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.

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Witch's hat (Hygrocybe conica) thumbnail 1

Witch's hat

Hygrocybe conica

A species of Waxcaps. Also known as Blackening waxcap, Blackening waxy-cap.

Following summer and autumn rains, you can spot Witch's hat mushrooms emerging in clusters across various landscapes like fields, grasslands, and roadsides, often thriving in areas with poor soil quality. To observe their vibrant orange or red hues, you need to find them quickly, as their caps rapidly transition to a deep black. These mushrooms then stand for several weeks, maintaining their glossy, dignified appearance. It's important to note that the Witch's hat is considered poisonous.

In This Article

Attributes Classification Toxicity Similar Mushrooms

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From Farm to Fork: The Definitive Witch's hat Guide

Complete cultivation, harvesting, and cooking guide for Witch's hat

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Attributes of Witch's hat

Cap Diameter

2 - 9 cm

Height

4 - 10 cm

Cap

Cap 1 - 6 cm across; sharply conical, expanding to broadly conical; red to orange, becoming black; sticky when very fresh, soon greasy or dry, bald or finely radially silky

Cap Shape

Bell-shaped, Convex, Flat, Central Bump

Cap Surfaces

Smooth, Slimy or slightly sticky, Visible lines or stripes

Gills

Adnexed; close or nearly distant; whitish to yellowish, becoming pale yellow, then orange; bruising and aging pale to dark gray or black

Gill Attachment

Free to Attached

Stem

Stem 3 - 8 cm long, 3 - 20 mm thick; equal; yellow to orangish yellow or orange, with a white base; fairly dry, fragile, splitting, hollow; bruising black

Stem Shapes

Cylindrical

Stem Surfaces

Fibrillose

Flesh

Thin; colored like the cap; slowly blackening on exposure

Ring

Ringless

Spore Print Color

White

Odor

Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.

Body Color

BlackYellowRedWhiteOrange

Flesh Bruises

Discolor to gray or black

Growth Form

Solitary, Gregarious, Scattered

Nutrient Gathering

Saprophytic, Symbiotic

Substrate

On soil, Mosses

You can find Witch's hat by these plants

Pines, Spruces

Occurence Habitats

Deciduous Woodland, Coniferous Woodland, Meadows, Disturbed Lands

Species Status

Widely distributed in North America

Endangered Species

Scientific Classification of Witch's hat

Phylum

Club fungi

Class

Mushroom-forming fungi

Order

Gilled fungi

Family

Waxgills

Genus

Waxcaps

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Toxicity and Edibility of Witch's hat

Is Witch's hat Toxic?

The witch's hat has components that may upset the digestive system, leading to mild symptoms like sickness, throwing up, stomach ache, loose stools, and perspiration. For this reason, it's advisable to stay away from the witch's hat.