Crimson waxcap
Hygrocybe punicea
A species of Waxcaps. Also known as Crimson wax-cap.
The scarlet waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea) stands out as a particularly sizable variety among waxcap mushrooms. Frequently likened to the orchids of the fungi world, these mushrooms display vivid red and yellow hues across both their caps and stems. Despite their striking beauty, consumption is strongly ill-advised, as crimson waxcaps are known to induce considerable digestive upset.
In This Article
Attributes of Crimson waxcap
Cap Diameter
3 - 12 cm
Height
5 - 15 cm
Cap
Cap 2 - 10 cm; convex to conical, flat; dark red to dark reddish orange, fading to orange; smooth, bald
Cap Shape
Bell-shaped, Convex, Flat
Cap Surfaces
Smooth, Slimy or slightly sticky
Gills
Adnexed to the stem; distant or nearly so; pale yellow to reddish or orange
Gill Attachment
Notched
Stem
Stem 4 - 12 cm long, up to 2 cm thick; equal or slightly tapering at either end; yellow to orange, whitish at the base; dry, usually, soon splitting
Stem Shapes
Cylindrical
Stem Surfaces
Fibrillose
Flesh
Thin; yellowish, or whitish near the center
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
White
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
YellowRedOrange
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Solitary, Scattered, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
On soil, Mosses
Occurence Habitats
Coniferous Woodland, Deciduous Woodland, Meadows
Species Status
Vulnerable
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Crimson waxcap
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
Waxgills
Genus
Waxcaps
Toxicity and Edibility of Crimson waxcap
Is Crimson waxcap Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
