@mattrjones.bsky.social
Botanist/Ecologist based in north west England. Botany got me hooked but now Interested in all groups.
Waxcap 43 - Dune Waxcap (Hygrocybe conicoides). Although not useful for CHEGD grassland assessments, good to know this species exists. Red conical cap that blackens only slightly, generally at the tip. Grows in coastal sand dunes with acuticonica and members of the conica agg.
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Waxcap 43 - Dune Waxcap (Hygrocybe conicoides). Although not useful for CHEGD grassland assessments, good to know this species exists. Red conical cap that blackens only slightly, generally at the tip. Grows in coastal sand dunes with acuticonica and members of the conica agg.
Waxcap 42 - Date Waxcap (Hygrocybe spadicea). A very shy fruiting species so not often encountered and also restricted to the better sites. Stipe is yellow with brown fibrils, gills generally yellow but can be orange. The brown conical cap is incredibly distinctive!
November 24, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Waxcap 42 - Date Waxcap (Hygrocybe spadicea). A very shy fruiting species so not often encountered and also restricted to the better sites. Stipe is yellow with brown fibrils, gills generally yellow but can be orange. The brown conical cap is incredibly distinctive!
Waxcap 41 - Orange Waxcap (Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens). A chunky species and good indicator of special sites. The hygrophanous umbonate cap can start a deep red but is usually orange and fading to yellow. The large contorted stipe is often yellow but can also be orange.
November 23, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Waxcap 41 - Orange Waxcap (Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens). A chunky species and good indicator of special sites. The hygrophanous umbonate cap can start a deep red but is usually orange and fading to yellow. The large contorted stipe is often yellow but can also be orange.
Waxcap 40 - Blushing Waxcap (Neohygrocybe ovina). This one's my favourite! A chunky species, often early fruiting and restricted to the best sites. Cap is grey to black and often splitting, resembling cowpats. The gills and stipe are a beautiful grey and the gills bruise red!!
November 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Waxcap 40 - Blushing Waxcap (Neohygrocybe ovina). This one's my favourite! A chunky species, often early fruiting and restricted to the best sites. Cap is grey to black and often splitting, resembling cowpats. The gills and stipe are a beautiful grey and the gills bruise red!!
Waxcap 39 - Glutinous Waxcap (Hygrocybe glutinipes). A small species that can be quite similar to Spangle, especially when redder in colour. However the stipe (and often cap) are very sticky compared to wet in Spangle. There's usually a visible layer of the sticky mucus on the stipe.
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Waxcap 39 - Glutinous Waxcap (Hygrocybe glutinipes). A small species that can be quite similar to Spangle, especially when redder in colour. However the stipe (and often cap) are very sticky compared to wet in Spangle. There's usually a visible layer of the sticky mucus on the stipe.
Waxcap 38 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe cinereifolia). Another distinct and named species in this group. It's rather slender with a distinct yellow colour and the key feature is that the gills are grey, even in young specimens. May yet be split further but for now recorded as this.
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Waxcap 38 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe cinereifolia). Another distinct and named species in this group. It's rather slender with a distinct yellow colour and the key feature is that the gills are grey, even in young specimens. May yet be split further but for now recorded as this.
Waxcap 37 - Vermilion Waxcap (Hygrocybe miniata). A species generally found on more acidic soils. Cap is red/orange but usually closer to orange and slightly domed. Gill attachment is usually adnate. A finely squamulose species best confirmed with microscopy.
November 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Waxcap 37 - Vermilion Waxcap (Hygrocybe miniata). A species generally found on more acidic soils. Cap is red/orange but usually closer to orange and slightly domed. Gill attachment is usually adnate. A finely squamulose species best confirmed with microscopy.
Waxcap 36 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe pseudoconica/nigrescens). One of the distinct named species in this group. A chunky and very fibrous species. Looking similar to Fibrous Waxcap before Blackening although the stipe colour differs.
November 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Waxcap 36 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe pseudoconica/nigrescens). One of the distinct named species in this group. A chunky and very fibrous species. Looking similar to Fibrous Waxcap before Blackening although the stipe colour differs.
Waxcap 35 - Slender Waxcap (Cuphophyllus radiatus). Similar to Yellowfoot but no yellowing to the more slender stipe and stronger striations in the cap. Quite small and hard to spot.
November 17, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Waxcap 35 - Slender Waxcap (Cuphophyllus radiatus). Similar to Yellowfoot but no yellowing to the more slender stipe and stronger striations in the cap. Quite small and hard to spot.
Waxcap 34 - Fibrous Waxcap (Hygrocybe intermedia). Generally one of the early species. A bit variable in colour but mostly red. Quite a chunky and distinctive species, the cap is very scaly and the stipe is fibrillose.
November 16, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Waxcap 34 - Fibrous Waxcap (Hygrocybe intermedia). Generally one of the early species. A bit variable in colour but mostly red. Quite a chunky and distinctive species, the cap is very scaly and the stipe is fibrillose.
Waxcap 33 - Nitrous Waxcap (Neohygrocybe nitrata). The name comes from the smell, very strong of swimming pool chlorine. Cap colour varies from grey to nearly black and overall size is also really variable. The stipe is generally a bit chunky. An uncommon species.
November 15, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Waxcap 33 - Nitrous Waxcap (Neohygrocybe nitrata). The name comes from the smell, very strong of swimming pool chlorine. Cap colour varies from grey to nearly black and overall size is also really variable. The stipe is generally a bit chunky. An uncommon species.
Waxcap 32 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica s.l). A poorly understood species complex. A few are described and recognisable in the field. The 'typical' looking ones shown are currently all recorded as conica. Starts orange/yellow and conical, rapidly blackening, the cap upturning and splitting.
November 14, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Waxcap 32 - Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica s.l). A poorly understood species complex. A few are described and recognisable in the field. The 'typical' looking ones shown are currently all recorded as conica. Starts orange/yellow and conical, rapidly blackening, the cap upturning and splitting.
Exploring some really fabulous grasslands in Ireland at the moment. Particularly stunned by the abundance of splendidissma and nitrata at some sites! Colemannianus is also pretty abundant as many of the grasslands are on limestone.
November 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Exploring some really fabulous grasslands in Ireland at the moment. Particularly stunned by the abundance of splendidissma and nitrata at some sites! Colemannianus is also pretty abundant as many of the grasslands are on limestone.
Waxcap 31 - Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea). Similar to Golden can be yellow to orange and variable in size. However, Butter typically has an eye and striations on the cap. The key feature to separate from Golden is the gill attachment.
November 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Waxcap 31 - Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea). Similar to Golden can be yellow to orange and variable in size. However, Butter typically has an eye and striations on the cap. The key feature to separate from Golden is the gill attachment.
Waxcap 30 - Butterscotch Waxcap (Gliophorus europerplexus) 😍 Previously in the perplexus agg. A browny beige species. Chunkier and less viscid than sciophanus. Different colours to Parrot or Jubilee. Incredibly rare.
November 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Waxcap 30 - Butterscotch Waxcap (Gliophorus europerplexus) 😍 Previously in the perplexus agg. A browny beige species. Chunkier and less viscid than sciophanus. Different colours to Parrot or Jubilee. Incredibly rare.
Waxcap 29 - Honey Waxcap (Hygrocybe reidii). A common orange species, the cap usually has a pale yellow and crenulated edge. When crushed the stipe has a slightly sweet smell. The cap often fades a silvery cracked texture and can look as if squamulose.
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Waxcap 29 - Honey Waxcap (Hygrocybe reidii). A common orange species, the cap usually has a pale yellow and crenulated edge. When crushed the stipe has a slightly sweet smell. The cap often fades a silvery cracked texture and can look as if squamulose.
Waxcap 28 - Limestone Waxcap (Hygrocybe calciphila). A small orange species with a finely squamulose cap. Only found on calcareous substrates. All the small squamulose species are better confirmed with microscopy.
November 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Waxcap 28 - Limestone Waxcap (Hygrocybe calciphila). A small orange species with a finely squamulose cap. Only found on calcareous substrates. All the small squamulose species are better confirmed with microscopy.
Waxcap 27 - Spangle Waxcap (Hygrocybe insipda). A pretty variable species but has an eye and strong striations on the cap, usually alternating red and yellow towards the cap edge. Stipe is wet and often red above. Lack of taste separates from Bitter and stem being wet rather sticky from Glutinous.
November 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Waxcap 27 - Spangle Waxcap (Hygrocybe insipda). A pretty variable species but has an eye and strong striations on the cap, usually alternating red and yellow towards the cap edge. Stipe is wet and often red above. Lack of taste separates from Bitter and stem being wet rather sticky from Glutinous.
Waxcap 26 - Grey Waxcap (Cuphophyllus lacmus). A beautiful and uncommon species. The decurrent gills are a smoky grey and the cap a very stunning lilac grey. The cap often has some striations.
November 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Waxcap 26 - Grey Waxcap (Cuphophyllus lacmus). A beautiful and uncommon species. The decurrent gills are a smoky grey and the cap a very stunning lilac grey. The cap often has some striations.
Waxcap 25 - Bitter Waxcap (Hygrocybe mucronella). Like a larger redder Spangle. The cap is extremely bitter tasting, sometimes chewing a bit is necessary to get the taste but usually just touching the cap with your tongue is enough!
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Waxcap 25 - Bitter Waxcap (Hygrocybe mucronella). Like a larger redder Spangle. The cap is extremely bitter tasting, sometimes chewing a bit is necessary to get the taste but usually just touching the cap with your tongue is enough!
Waxcap 24 - Snowy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus). Our commonest white species. Very variable and multiple named forms but always with strongly decurrent gills and no obvious smell.
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Waxcap 24 - Snowy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus). Our commonest white species. Very variable and multiple named forms but always with strongly decurrent gills and no obvious smell.
Waxcap 23 - Splendid Waxcap (Hygrocybe splendidissma). Probably the most exciting of the big reds. Stipe is chunky and often contorted, can be red or yellow. The dry cap is probably the best feature but this can be difficult to tell in wet weather.
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Waxcap 23 - Splendid Waxcap (Hygrocybe splendidissma). Probably the most exciting of the big reds. Stipe is chunky and often contorted, can be red or yellow. The dry cap is probably the best feature but this can be difficult to tell in wet weather.
Waxcap 22 - Garlic Waxcap (Hygrocybe helobia). A small red squamulose species. Usually quite early fruiting. Microscopy generally needed for certainty on these as a few similar species. Has a supposed garlic smell.
November 4, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Waxcap 22 - Garlic Waxcap (Hygrocybe helobia). A small red squamulose species. Usually quite early fruiting. Microscopy generally needed for certainty on these as a few similar species. Has a supposed garlic smell.
Waxcap 21 - Oily Waxcap (Hygrocybe quieta). Often a chunky thing, cap orange or yellow but usually faded to a pallid shiny yellow. Gills salmon pink or orange and with a strong smell of an oily rag. Stipe is orange, chunky and often contorted.
November 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Waxcap 21 - Oily Waxcap (Hygrocybe quieta). Often a chunky thing, cap orange or yellow but usually faded to a pallid shiny yellow. Gills salmon pink or orange and with a strong smell of an oily rag. Stipe is orange, chunky and often contorted.