Fungus
Vermilion Waxcap
Hygrocybe miniataAlso known as Miniature Waxy Cap, Vermilion Waxy Cap
Bright vermilion to scarlet caps dot mossy clearings and undisturbed turf, creating striking spots of color against green backdrops. Small, delicate fruiting bodies feature slightly scurfy cap centers and broad, wax-like gills that fade to orange or yellow as they mature. This species maintains complex biotrophic relationships with surrounding mosses and fine grasses in nutrient-poor soils worldwide.
Brightly ColoredForest FloorWaxcap
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBiotrophic and Saprotrophic
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnats
- Small rodents
ThreatsAgricultural runoff, soil enrichment, habitat loss
HabitatsUnimproved grasslands, mossy woods, sandy heaths, rainforests
Life spanPerennial mycelium; individual mushrooms last 1–2 weeks
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyHygrophoraceae
- GenusHygrocybe
- SpeciesHygrocybe miniata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Examine cap texture: Look for fine, tiny scales near the cap center using a hand lens.
- Observe gill attachment: Check underneath for broad, wax-like gills attached directly to the stem.
- Protect subterranean threads: Avoid disturbing surrounding moss to preserve delicate underground mycelium.
Habitat Companion (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
Close Relative This image was created by user amadej trnkoczy (amadej) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here. / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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