Fungus · GBIF taxon 2538524
Witch's Hat
Hygrocybe conicaAlso known as Blackening Waxcap, Conical Wax Cap, Conical Slimy Cap
Bright scarlet, orange, or yellow conical caps make this striking fungus easy to spot in mossy lawns and unimproved grasslands. As the fruiting body matures or suffers bruising, all parts slowly oxidize to an indelible jet black. This species complex plays an important role in grassland soil ecosystems, maintaining biotrophic associations with mosses and grass root zones.
FungusWaxcapColor-Changing
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying organic matter
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Fungus gnat larvae
ThreatsAgricultural runoff, soil enrichment, habitat destruction
HabitatsUnimproved grasslands, mossy lawns, meadows, woodland edges
Life spanPerennial underground mycelium, mushrooms persist 1–2 weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyHygrophoraceae
- GenusHygrocybe
- SpeciesHygrocybe conica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic if ingested; wild fungi have dangerous look-alikes and should never be eaten based on app identification alone.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains toxic compounds that trigger severe gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by its distinctly pointed, conical cap that turns jet black when handled or bruised.
- What to do
- Safe to inspect and photograph up close, but keep out of reach of pets and small children.
Responsible observation
- Observe Color Changes: Watch bruised areas turn inky black over several hours without damaging the mushroom.
- Look in Ancient Grasslands: Search undisturbed lawns and cemeteries that have avoided synthetic fertilizers.
- Photograph the Gills: Capture the pale yellow to orange gills before they completely blacken with age.
Grassland Neighbor (c) GLJIVARSKO DRUSTVO NIS, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Frank Gardiner aka Zonda Grattus / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
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