Herald of winter
Hygrophorus hypothejus
A species of Woodwaxes. Also known as Late fall waxy cap, Pine-wood hygrophorus, Winter herald.
Winter's harbinger, a forest mushroom, thrives near pines. Abundant in cooler seasons, it's often hard to locate due to its superior camouflage. Its cap color varies greatly, especially with maturity, making young and old specimens look quite dissimilar.
In This Article
Attributes of Herald of winter
Cap Diameter
3 - 7 cm
Height
4 - 10 cm
Cap
Cap 3 - 6 cm across; flat, funnel-shaped; yellowish to olive brown; surface slimy; margin rolled
Cap Shape
Convex, Flat, Depressed
Cap Surfaces
Smooth, Slimy or slightly sticky
Gills
Decurrent; yellow
Gill Attachment
Decurrent
Stem
Stem 4 - 7 cm long, 7 - 14 mm thick; cylindrical; pale yellow, orange
Stem Shapes
Cylindrical
Stem Surfaces
Fibrillose
Flesh
Pale yellow; turning orange-red when bruised
Ring
With Ring Zone
Spore Print Color
White
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
BrownBlackGreenYellow
Flesh Bruises
Discolor to yellowish
Growth Form
Scattered, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Mycorrhizal
Substrate
On soil, Leaf or Needle Litter
You can find Herald of winter by these plants
Spruces, Pines, Oaks, Scots pine
Occurence Habitats
Coniferous Woodland
Species Status
Least Concern
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Herald of winter
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
Waxgills
Genus
Woodwaxes
Toxicity and Edibility of Herald of winter
Is Herald of winter Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
