Hygrocybe punicea

Hygrocybe punicea
Hygrocybe punicea, England
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Hygrophoraceae
Genus: Hygrocybe
Species:
H. punicea
Binomial name
Hygrocybe punicea
(Fr.) P. Kumm. (1871)
Synonyms
  • Agaricus puniceus Fr. (1821)
  • Hygrophorus puniceus (Fr.) Fr. (1838)
  • Godfrinia punicea (Fr.) Herink (1958)
  • Pseudohygrocybe punicea (Fr.) Kovalenko (1988)
Hygrocybe punicea
Gills on hymenium
Cap is conical or umbonate
Hymenium is adnexed or free
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white
Edibility is not recommended

Hygrocybe punicea is a species of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of crimson waxcap.

The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agriculturally unimproved grassland. Records from East Asia, North America, and Australia require further research to see if they represent the same species.

Threats to its habitat have resulted in the species being assessed as globally "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is not recommended for consumption due to its accumulating cadmium.