Mushroom identifier
Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus
Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe are genera in the family Hygrophoraceae. In the UK, species of Hygrophorus are often called "woodwaxes," while Hygrocybe species are known as "waxcaps," a name also used in North America. The caps of most Hygrophorus species are smooth and become viscid to glutinous when damp, though not all exhibit this trait, whereas Hygrocybe species typically have bright, waxy caps and are often found in unimproved grasslands and mossy habitats. The lamellae beneath the cap in both genera are usually distant, thick, and waxy, with Hygrophorus gills broadly attached or decurrent and Hygrocybe gills more often adnate to narrowly attached. All species are ground-dwelling, with Hygrophorus forming ectomycorrhizal associations with living trees, while Hygrocybe species are not mycorrhizal but are instead associated with nutrient-poor soils. Together, the genera encompass well over 100 recognised species worldwide.
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