Fungus · GBIF taxon 2538595
Goblet Waxcap
Hygrocybe cantharellusAlso known as Chanterelle Waxy Cap, Chanterelle Waxcap
Goblet waxcaps feature vibrant orange-to-scarlet funnel-shaped caps that fade to yellow near delicate, finely scaly margins. Their distinctly decurrent gills run gracefully down slender, fragile stems anchored in moist moss beds or rich leaf litter. Emerging after late-summer rains, these tiny, brilliant mushrooms play a key role in nutrient dynamics on the forest floor.
Brightly ColoredForest FloorMoss Dweller
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Saprotrophic and moss-associated
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Fungus gnat larvae
ThreatsHabitat destruction, soil compaction, and synthetic fertilizer runoff
HabitatsDamp mossy woodlands, forest glades, and unimproved grasslands
Life spanFruiting bodies persist 5–12 days
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyHygrophoraceae
- GenusHygrocybe
- SpeciesHygrocybe cantharellus
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
- Search in Moss: Look on moist, moss-covered banks in deciduous or mixed forests after heavy summer rain.
- Inspect the Underside: Examine beneath the small cap to observe yellow-orange gills running far down the stem.
Superficial Look-alike (c) Björn S..., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Frank Gardiner aka Zonda Grattus / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Lisa Bennett, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lisa Bennett · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.