Small red waxy caps

so… I'm willing to say that this is might be a Hygrocybe squamulosa, taking into account location and features. I do wish I could find an example with a stem more like these though..

comments (10)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Somehow this scene gives the illusion of a forest with giant trees :) Posted 10 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Thanks for the species request. I'm a little bit in doubt about this one. Do you recall what the bottom of the hat was like? On most reference photos I see some differences compared to this photo:

- the species you suggest has a scaled cap, yet this one is smooth (can perhaps be explained by young age)
- the species you suggest has quite explicit gills, can't tell from this photo
- as you say, can't find an example with this tree-like stem

Not trying to be overly strict, just trying to learn myself. I'll see if I can run this down some Google+/FB groups for a validation, ok?

Posted 10 years ago
1. morpheme
  
  Lion
  
  I'm more than open to suggestions about this one. The mushroom sites all say there are many look alikes for these and determining the exact species can be difficult (and the exact number of truly different species is in contention too). The stem is the biggest thing that concerns me - none of the photos I looked at had a stem like these - and I dont think 't was an isolated thing caused by something like an insect eating it or dehydration, all of the individuals I photographed in the area had a stem like this one. The gills weren't attached and didn't come down the stem like they do on Hygrocybe cantharellus, but they were very small, so as the mushrooms grow they may. They also closely resemble Hygrocybe miniata, but again the stem is very different. I'm good with leaving it as an unknown. Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    I'm not hoping for an unknown, although I agree this one is very difficult. I'll give my external request some time, you never know. Otherwise we can still decide on your suggestion as a likely match. Posted 10 years ago
  2. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    as I was identifying one of my own, I came across this and it instantly reminded me of your photo:
    
    http://www.soortenbank.nl/soorten.php?soortengroep=paddenstoelen&selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&record=Laccaria%20proxima
    
    Not sure if it helps. Posted 10 years ago
  3. 1. morpheme
      
      Lion
      
      ooooo that does look very similar - I'll check to see if we have local laccaria Posted 10 years ago
    2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        This definitely doesn't look like any Laccaria laccata I have seen. THey tend to have a wavy edge and are not nearly this orange. Posted 4 years ago
      2. morpheme
        
        Lion
        
        This was way back in the early days of my mushrooming - now I can pretty much assure you that these are very young and tiny L. laccata. I see them quite often out here. Our PNW varieties of Laccaria tend to stay small, and have those very grooved stipes. It's possible that they are L. bicolor, but as orange as they are, probably not. The image doesn't give a lot of scale, but they really are small - just pins, so the caps aren't mature yet. Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
        
        Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        Very interesting! Our pins here begin with about the same cap color and don't really change much as they grow (maybe to a lighter, slightly pinker tone). I suppose this is why most mycologists are grouping this into "Laccaria laccata group". I wonder how many subspecies there are out there?
        
        Also, I agree that the stipes are very much like L. laccata here, just less pink! Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Interesting that they are often grouped as "Laccaria laccata group"...I didn't know that. I have seen orange-ish ones and pale pinkish ones in the NE:
        
        Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago

The Waxy laccaria

"Laccaria laccata" is a white-spored species of small edible mushroom found throughout North America and Europe. It is a highly variable mushroom, and can look quite washed out, colorless and drab, but when younger it often assumes red, pinkish brown, and orange tones.

Info 40 0

Similar species: Agaricales

Species identified by morpheme

By morpheme

Uploaded Oct 20, 2014. Captured Oct 19, 2014 10:54 in National Forest Develop Road 3745 Road, Marblemount, WA 98267, USA.

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Captured in the fall. More fall photos.

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