Steve Trudell
In the previous revision, names were left in the genus Hygrophorus because genus names in Hygrophoraceae were changing rapidly. With advances in DNA study, many of the new names are used by most mycologists. While genus names will continue to fluctuate, it is no longer tenable to avoid genera that are in common use. While the mushrooms themselves have not changed much perhaps, their names have changed considerably and will continue to do so.
The title of the key replaces HYGROPHORUS with HYGROPHOROID SPECIES. Rather than having a precise meaning, the new title is intended to retain the original scope of the key, which focused on waxcaps.
Hygrophorus agathosmoides replaces Hygrophorus agathosmus.
Hygrophorus boyeri and Hygrophorus siccipes replace Hygrophorus hypothejus.
Hygrophorus pustulatoides replaces Hygrophorus pustulatus.
Gliophorus irrigatus replaces Hygrophorus unguinosus with reservations.
Hodophilus paupertinus replaces Hygrophorus foetens.
These changes are not necessarily synonymies.
Single quotation marks have been used around species epithets that are unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. A group designation is used where names in the group are not clearly determined or there is no clear macroscopic way to distinguish members of the group.
Dr. Stuntz included in his key the commoner Hygrophorus species from Washington. While it includes the majority of species likely to be encountered in the Pacific Northwest, most interested amateurs will find less common species as well. As this group of mushrooms draws more than its share of interest due to the bright colors or many of the species, a brief account of less common species has been added as an appendix, organized according to Dr. Stuntz's sections. Some of them are recorded by from Idaho, Oregon, or British Columbia, but not from Washington.
The structure and details of the keys have not been altered, lest the wide experience of Dr. Stuntz be accidentally diminished. "NOTES" represent Dr. Stuntz's comments. "REMARKS" were added during the revision. In reformatting, the page references to the Hesler & Smith monograph and to the older field guides have been removed. In the few cases where Pacific Northwest material from the species is not included in the monograph, this is noted in the remarks.
Many of the species included in Hygrophorus by Hesler and Smith have been segregated by various authors into different genera (Hygrocybe, Camarophyllus, Camarophyllopsis, Neohygrophorus, Cuphophyllus, etc.) The renaming process is far from complete: it has been decided for ease of usage here to retain the name Hygrophorus for all the species.
In this key to species of Hygrophorus found in Washington, the species are divided into nine groups, each group characterized by the color of the cap, as follows:
In each of these groups, a further subdivision is made as follows:
It may happen that only two of these subgroups will occur in some of the nine main groups. In any event, if you know the normal color of the cap, and can tell whether or not cap and/or stem are viscid, the combination of a group I through IX plus a subgroup A through C narrows the choice of species to no more than 6 or 7, usually less.
It is well to remember that color can vary considerably with age and with weather. To some extent this has been gotten around by including species with variable color in several places in the key. The perception of viscid surfaces can be difficult in specimens that have developed during dry weather, or that have been subjected to enough rain to wash off most of the slime. The "lip test" is helpful in detecting viscid layers that have dried, but in really dubious cases recourse to the microscope may be the only sure way of settling the question. Dry surfaces of soft-fleshed species (e.g., Hygrophorus flavescens) may seem viscid if much handled, because of sticky cell contents released by the breaking of the delicate cell walls.
A brief description is appended to each key entry that leads to a species in its proper section. In parentheses following each description are given the spore measurements (in microns, taken from the Hesler-Smith monograph) and the type of gill tissue, indicated as follows:
PL = parallel or subparallel
IW = interwoven
DV = divergent
Sometimes these features are the only ones that will really separate two species with essentially the same colors and viscid surfaces.
I. Cap white. (Note: caps that are pure white when in conditions of vigorous growth often will take on a tinge of cream or buff upon aging, or on drying out.)
I A. Cap white, both cap and stem viscid
1a Margin of cap and top of stem bearing many small, golden yellow granules
................................................................................Hygrophorus chrysodon
| CAP 1-3 inches broad. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, white with yellow edges. STEM as long or longer than the width of the cap, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, viscid except at the top. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 3.5-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus chrysodon Steve Trudell |
1b No yellow granules on cap or stem
................................................................................2
2a Stem 1/2 inch or more thick, usually shorter than the cap width; caps large (usually more than 5 inches wide) and thick-fleshed
................................................................................see Hygrophorus 'gliocyclus', in section II.
2b Stem usually less than 1/2 inch thick, and usually longer than the cap width; most caps medium-sized (less than 5 inches wide), with rather thin flesh except at the very center
................................................................................3
3a Gills lemon yellow; cap less than 1/2 inch broad; stem one eighth inch or less thick
................................................................................see Chromosera citrinopallida, in section IV
3b Gills not lemon yellow; both cap and stem larger than the above choice
................................................................................4
REMARKS If neither choice 3a or 3b fits and there is a fibrillose ring near top of stem, consider Hygrophorus albiflavus (see Appendix).
4a Gills becoming brownish in old specimens, and turning dark red-brown when dried
................................................................................Hygrophorus chrysaspis
CAP 1 to 2 1/4 inches broad, convex, drying tawny or with black stains at center. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate, white becoming yellow where bruised. STEM as long as width of cap, slender, white, yellow where bruised. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 3.4-4.5 microns; DV.
4b Gills becoming pale yellowish or pale buff in age or when dried
................................................................................Hygrophorus eburneus
| CAP 1 to 4 inches broad, convex, drying pale buff or yellowish. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, white, not discoloring markedly in age or when dried. STEM longer than width of cap, slender, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-9 x 3.5-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus eburneus Michael Beug |
I B. Cap white, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a Stem slender (less than 1/2 inch thick), usually longer than width of the cap
................................................................................2
1b Stem stout (1/2 inch or more thick), usually shorter than the width of the cap
................................................................................3
2a Cap translucent-striate almost to the center when wet
................................................................................Cuphophyllus niveus
CAP 1 - 2 inches broad; flesh thin, pliant. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white, becoming yellowish. STEM white, smooth. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4-5.5 microns; IW. REMARKS Arnolds 1986 (as quoted in Breitenbach et al.) includes Camarophyllus niveus in Hygrocybe virginea.
2b Cap not translucent-striate when wet
................................................................................Hygrophorus piceae group
| CAP 1 - 2 inches broad, convex; flesh thick at the center. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate then somewhat decurrent, white becoming pale buff. STEM white, smooth below, fibrillose at apex. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-9 x 4-5.5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus piceae Michael Beug |
REMARKS If cap or gills have a pinkish tinge or habitat is near snowbanks, consider Hygrophorus albicarneus (see Appendix). If 2a and 2b do not fit, and gills are contrasting creamy yellowish consider Hygrophorus karstenii var. minor (see Appendix).
3a (1b) Base of stem with a large bulb whose flat upper rim bears a narrow, flaring, membranous, ragged ring in young specimens that have just expanded
................................................................................Hygrophorus subalpinus
| CAP 2 to 6 or 8 inches broad, sometimes larger, convex then shallowly concave; flesh thick. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, narrow, white. STEM dry, white, firm, solid. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-10 x 4.5-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus subalpinus Michael Beug |
3b Base of stem not bulbous (often narrowed or bluntly pointed); no veil, no ring
................................................................................Hygrophorus sordidus
| CAP 4-8 inches broad, convex; flesh thick. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white, becoming slightly yellowish. STEM white, smooth. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 4-5.5 microns; DV. REMARKS H. penarius has slightly darker cap but may be the same species. | Hygrophorus sordidus Ben Woo |
I C. Cap white, neither cap nor stem viscid.
1a Cap becoming yellowish at least at the center
................................................................................Cuphophyllus virgineus
| CAP 1 - 2 inches wide; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white, becoming tinged yellow. STEM smooth, white, rarely tinged salmon pink or pinkish lavender in the lower half. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-11 x 5-7 microns; IW. REMARKS Arnolds 1986 (as quoted in Breitenbach et al.) includes Camarophyllus niveus in Hygrocybe virginea. | Cuphophyllus virgineus Steve Trudell |
1b Cap remaining white even at the center
................................................................................Cuphophyllus borealis
| CAP 1/2 to 2 inches broad; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white. STEM smooth, dull, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4.5-6.5 microns; IW. | Cuphophyllus borealis Michael Beug |
REMARKS If there is an odor of cedar or a medicinal taste, consider Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus (see Appendix). If 1a and 1b do not fit, and gills are contrasting creamy yellowish consider Hygrophorus 'karstenii'. (see Appendix).
II. Cap ivory, pale cream, pale yellow, pale buff or beige, pale salmon flesh color, pale pinkish, vinaceous buff, or pallid cinnamon; usually uniformly colored, but the margin may be somewhat paler than the center.
II A. Cap buff, etc., both cap and stem viscid
1a Margin of cap and top of stem decorated with many small, bright golden yellow granules
................................................................................see Hygrophorus chrysodon, in section I.
1b Margin of cap and top of stem not covered with bright golden yellow granules
................................................................................2
2a Stem slender for its length, usually 2 or 3 times as long as the width of the cap, and 1/4 inch or less thick
................................................................................3
2b Stem stout, thicker for its length than in the above, usually about as long as the width of the cap (or shorter)
................................................................................4
REMARKS If neither 2a or 2b fits well, or if odor is distinctly aromatic, consider Hygrophorus cossus (see Appendix.)
3a Gills decurrent, pale pinkish or pale grayish lilac
................................................................................Gliophorus laetus
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, convex, usually becoming depressed in the center, slimy, very variable in color, usually pale grayish violet, but may be orange, reddish orange, onion-skin pink, or dingy brown. ODOR none, or faintly fishy. GILLS tough, subdistant. STEM 2 to 5 inches long, slimy, same color as the cap. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-8 x 3-5 microns; PL. | Gliophorus laetus Steve Trudell |
3b Gills not decurrent (adnate), yellow, often retaining a trace of their original green color where they are fastened to the cap
................................................................................see Gliophorus psittacinus, in section IX.
4a (2b) Cap pale to bright pinkish buff; lower part of the stem with only a thin layer of slime that breaks into yellowish patches, and does not form a glutinous ring
................................................................................Hygrophorus vernalis
CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, convex; flesh thick. ODOR not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, whitish. STEM 1 to 2 inches long, whitish. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 11-16 x 5.5-7 microns; DV.
4b Cap pale yellow or nearly white, without any pinkish cast; lower part of the stem with a thick, glutinous sheath that forms a glutinous ring when the cap opens, and does not break into yellowish patches
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'gliocyclus'
| CAP 3 to 6 inches or more broad, convex, slimy; flesh thick, white. ODOR not special. GILLS adnate or decurrent, subdistant, white then pale yellow. STEM about 1 1/2 to 5 or 6 inches long, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-11 x 4.5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS the European version has been considered a synonym of Hygrophorus ligatus Fr. | Hygrophorus 'gliocyclus' Kit Scates Barnhart |
REMARKS If neither choice fits well, and cap is white with yellow to orange or orange tan disc, or that color over the whole cap, and gills are pink fading to whitish, consider Hygrophorus flavodiscus. If neither choice fits well and there are watery drops near the top of the stem that dry to reddish dots, consider Hygrophorus glutinosus. See Appendix for either species.
II B. Cap buff etc., cap viscid, stem not viscid
1a Taste intensely and persistently bitter
................................................................................Hygrophorus amarus
CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, slimy, flesh color or buff, sometimes yellow tinged with orange in the center. ODOR not distinctive. GILLS adnate or somewhat decurrent, pale yellow becoming spotted with pink. STEM 1 to 2 times as long as the width of the cap, 1/2 inch or more thick, white or flushed with pink. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-8.5 x 4.5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS H. erubescens is sometimes described as bitter but has dark reddish brown cap and pinkish gills spotted or stained reddish; Hygrophorus pudorinus group, which may also be bitter doesn't have the fibrillose stem sheath of H. amarus.
1b Taste not bitter
................................................................................2
2a Stem slender, 1/4 inch or less thick
................................................................................Hygrophorus pusillus
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, convex then flat, creamy yellow to pale brownish flesh color at the center, pallid at the margin. ODOR slightly fragrant. TASTE mild. GILLS adnate or slightly decurrent, white. STEM 1 to 3 inches long, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5 microns; DV. REMARKS If odor is faintly medicinal or gills buff, consider Hygrophorus burgdorfensis. If odor is faintly aromatic, sweet, fruity, or spicy, stem pruinose, and gills pinkish cinnamon, consider Hygrophorus subpungens. If odor not distinctive, but cap very pale pinkish and copious white fibrillose veil remnants are present on stem, consider Hygrophorus velatus. (See Appendix for these 3 species.) | Hygrophorus pusillus Kit Scates Barnhart |
2b Stem stout, fleshy, more than 1/4 inch thick (up to 1 1/2 or even 2 inches thick in large specimens)
................................................................................3
REMARKS If cap and gills are apricot orange, or if neither 2a or 2b fits well, consider also Hygrophorus ellenae. If habitat near snowbanks, consider also Hygrophorus goetzii. (See Appendix for either species.)
3a Gills white or pallid
................................................................................Hygrophorus penarius
CAP 2 to 3 inches broad, convex, viscid at first but soon becoming dry, and then does not look viscid, pinkish tan to straw color at the center, paler at the margin; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS slightly decurrent. STEM about as long as the width of the cap, about 1/2 inch thick, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7 x 3.5-4 microns; DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus sordidus has slightly lighter cap but may be the same species.
3b Gills pink, salmon pink, or pale pinkish cinnamon
................................................................................4
4a Gills soon becoming spotted and stained with wine red or dull cherry red
................................................................................see Hygrophorus erubescens, in section VII
4b Gills not becoming spotted or stained with red
................................................................................5
5a Top of stem dotted with rough white points turn red-brown when the specimen is dried, the points becoming orange or yellow in KOH even when fresh
................................................................................H. pudorinus group
| CAP 2 1/2 to 8 inches broad, pale apricot color or salmon pink at the center, paler pink at the margin; flesh thick, staining yellow then orange where bruised. ODOR faintly fragrant. GILLS adnate, pale pinkish or pinkish cream. STEM 4-8 inches long, 1/2 to 2 inches thick, white or flushed with pink. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9.5 x 4.5-5.5 microns; DV. REMARKS The original description here was for Hygrophorus pudorinus var. fragrans. Hygrophorus fragrans and Hygrophorus pudorinus are two separate species but the two have both been known as Hygrophorus pudorinus in the past. Hygrophorus fragrans is “the more common west-side species" in Cascadia, and "tends to exhibit brighter pink tones", orange staining on the lower stem, and "a brilliant KOH reaction". Hygrophorus pudorinus in the updated concept is "more common on the east-side of the Cascade Range", "with a rosy pink to purplish pink cap", a tendency to lack the orange staining of the lower stem, and "a more muted orange KOH reaction", (Siegel and Schwarz (2024)). | Hygrophorus pudorinus group Andrew Parker |
5b Top of stem not dotted with rough white points that turn red-brown when dried
................................................................................Hygrophorus saxatilis
| CAP 1 1/2 to 4 inches broad, convex or broadly umbonate, slightly viscid but soon becoming dry and then not appearing viscid, pale pinkish buff or pale pinkish cinnamon, margin paler; flesh pale pinkish buff, not staining yellow or orange where bruised. ODOR faint of dried peaches. GILLS decurrent, pale yellowish salmon or pinkish cinnamon. STEM as long as the width of the cap, 1/2 to 1 inches thick, same color as the cap at first, with age becoming same color as the gills. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9.5 x 4-6 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus saxatilis Michael Beug |
II C. Cap buff etc., neither cap nor stem viscid
1a Gills white, becoming tinged pale yellow only with age, or not at all
................................................................................2
1b Gills colored from the first, yellow, buff, salmon buff, etc., and if anything fading with age
................................................................................3
REMARKS If gills are bluish green, see Hygrophorus caeruleus in Appendix. If cap and gills are white and become apricot orange, consider also H. ellenae (see Appendix).
2a Stem slender, about 10 times as long as it is thick, about 1/4 of an inch thick (or less)
................................................................................see Cuphophyllus virgineus, in section I
2b Stem stout, about 4 times as long as it is thick, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
................................................................................see Hygrophorus penarius, in subgroup B of this section
3a (1b) Cap less than 1 1/2 inches broad; gills clear yellow
................................................................................Hygrophorus cremicolor
CAP obtuse, with cottony margin at first, white at first becoming creamy ocher or tinged salmon color; flesh thin, same color as the surface. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, distant, narrow, retaining their color even when the cap fades to white, as it often does. STEM 2 to 3 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, same color as the cap. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7 x 3.5-4.5 microns; IW.
3b Cap 2 to 4 inches or more broad; gills not yellow
................................................................................4
REMARKS If intermediate in size between 3a and 3b, and has sweetish fragrant odor and pinkish cinnamon colors, consider Cuphophyllus graveolens (see Appendix).
4a Cap hygrophanous, that is, much darker in color when wet, and fading markedly upon losing moisture (turn dry caps upside down in a shallow container of water to test this feature); odor none, or not distinctive
................................................................................see Cuphophyllus pratensis group, in section V
4b Cap not hygrophanous, not fading markedly in color upon losing moisture; odor faintly but unmistakable of dried peaches
................................................................................see H. saxatilis, in subgroup B of this section
III. Cap red-brown or tan, or occasionally yellow-brown in the center, pallid to white at the margin ("bicolorous") when mature (very young caps may be more or less evenly red-brown).
III A. Cap bicolorous brown and whitish, both cap and stem viscid.
Only one species
................................................................................Hygrophorus variicolor
CAP 1 1/2 to 3 inches broad, convex or broadly and shallowly umbonate, slimy, reddish brown to cinnamon brown at the center, whitish at the margin; flesh thick, white. ODOR almond (benzaldehyde). TASTE mild. GILLS short-decurrent, white. STEM 3 to 4 inches long, about 1/2 inch thick, white, the lower half or third slimy, upper part dry. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4.5-5.5 microns; DV. REMARKS Other almond scented species include Hygrophorus agathosmoides, Hygrophorus albofloccosus, Hygrophorus bakerensis, Hygrophorus monticola, Hygrophorus odoratus, and Hygrophorus vinicolor. Hygrophorus variicolor is similar to Hygrophorus bakerensis apart from the slimy stem. If odor is mild, gills tinged buff, and fibrillose points on upper stem, consider Hygrophorus 'discoideus' (see Appendix).
III B. Cap bicolorous brown and whitish, cap viscid, stem not viscid
1a Gills pinkish buff to pinkish cinnamon (yellowish with definite pink cast); stem staining yellow then orange where bruised, its top dotted with rough white points that turn yellow in 3% potassium hydroxide solution, and become red-brown when the specimen is dried
................................................................................see Hygrophorus pudorinus group, in section II.
1b Gills white or yellow, but if yellow, lacking any tinge of pink; stem not becoming yellow or orange when bruised, its top not with rough white points that turn yellow in alkali solutions and dry red-brown
................................................................................2
2a Gills yellow from the first; odor strong and penetrating, aromatic, but not like almond flavoring (benzaldehyde)
................................................................................Hygrophorus pacificus
| CAP 1 1/2 to 3 inches broad, convex, evenly red-brown at first, then red-brown at the center and pinkish buff at the margin. ODOR strong and penetrating, aromatic. GILLS adnate, broad, distant. STEM about as long as the width of the cap, about 1/2 inch thick, pale yellowish or white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 10-14 x 5.5-7.5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus pacificus Michael Beug |
2b Gills white at first and remaining so, or becoming creamy white (not truly yellow) in age; odor strong of almond flavoring (benzaldehyde)
................................................................................Hygrophorus bakerensis
| CAP 1 1/2 to 6 inches broad, convex, slimy, red-brown or cinnamon brown at the center, pallid or almost white at the margin. ODOR almond. GILLS short-decurrent. STEM 3 to 6 to 8 inches long, 1/2 to 1 inch thick, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4.5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS Other almond scented species include Hygrophorus agathosmoides, Hygrophorus albofloccosus, Hygrophorus monticola, Hygrophorus odoratus, Hygrophorus variicolor, and Hygrophorus vinicolor. Hygrophorus variicolor is similar apart from having a slimy stem. If odor is of raw potatoes instead, and taste is bitter, see Hygrophorus tennesseensis in Appendix. | Hygrophorus bakerensis Michael Beug |
IV. Cap some shade of bright yellow, lemon yellow, egg yolk yellow, creamy yellow, chrome yellow, etc.
IV A. Cap yellow, cap viscid, stem viscid.
1a Taste very bitter
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'reae', in section VI.
1b Taste not bitter
................................................................................2
2a Cap 1/2 inch or less in diameter
................................................................................Chromosera citrinopallida
CAP 1/4 to 1/2 inch broad, convex, lemon yellow fading to white; flesh very thin. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS long-decurrent, lemon yellow, remaining so when cap fades. STEM 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, about 1/8 inch thick, lemon yellow fading to white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4.5-5 microns; IW.
2b Cap more than 1/2 inch broad
................................................................................3
3a Stem hollow
................................................................................4
3b Stem solid, or sometimes filled with a soft webby pith
................................................................................6
4a Cap very soon becoming depressed in the center, finally deeply concave with shallowly rounded margin; gills decurrent
................................................................................Gloioxanthomyces nitidus
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, yellow fading to white; flesh very thin, yellow fading to white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS long-decurrent, narrow, yellow. STEM 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-9 x 4-5 microns; PL. | Gloioxanthomyces nitidus Andrew Parker |
4b Cap not becoming deeply concave, but remaining convex, conical, or bell-shaped, or becoming flat; gills not decurrent
................................................................................5
5a Cap and stem taking on pinkish tinges with age or when dried
................................................................................see Gliophorus psittacinus, in section IX.
5b Cap and stem remaining deep lemon yellow when old or upon drying, or sometimes tinged with orange at center of the cap, but not pink
................................................................................Hygrocybe 'flavescens’ rather than Hygrocybe 'chlorophana'
CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, convex then flat, translucent-lined at the margin; flesh thin, fragile, yellow. ODOR and TASTE not special. STEM 1 to 3 inches long, 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, deep lemon yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 4-5 microns; PL. REMARKS In the original key, Hygrophorus chlorophanus is in this part of the key with viscid stems, and Hygrophorus flavescens in a part of the key with non-viscid stems. The phylogenetic evidence so far suggests a single species that varies in stem viscidity, closer to Hygrocybe flavescens described from eastern North America than the European-described Hygrocybe chlorophana.
6a (3b) Sporocarps associated only with larch; center of cap sometimes tinged orange or red, but not brown
................................................................................see Hygrophorus speciosus, in section V.
6b Sporocarps associated with conifers other than larch (sometimes also hardwoods), mostly with 2- or 3-needle pines; center of cap retaining a rather dark brown color
................................................................................see Hygrophorus boyeri group, in section VIII.
IV B. Cap yellow, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a Taste intensely and persistently bitter
................................................................................see Hygrophorus amarus, in section II.
1b Taste not bitter
................................................................................2
2a Cap cone-shaped; flesh red under the surface; cap regaining its original red color when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe cuspidata, in section VI.
2b Cap convex to flat, never cone-shaped; flesh without any red color under the surface; cap not becoming red when dried
................................................................................Hygrocybe 'flavescens'
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, viscid when moist, yellow, but sometimes varying to orange; flesh thin, fragile, yellow. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS narrowly attached, yellow. STEM 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, 3/8 to 5/8 inches thick, white at the base, orange in the middle, yellow at the top. MICRO-STRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5 microns; PL. REMARKS Hygrocybe flavescens was first described from Michigan: the Pacific Northwest species is more than 7% different in ITS DNA from the east coast version. There is no phylogenetic evidence so far of a different more slimy-stemmed species in the Pacific Northwest that we should call Hygrocybe ‘chlorophana’; instead there is variation of viscidity in Hygrocybe ‘flavescens'. Hygrocybe subceracea is somewhat similar, with smaller spores (see Appendix). Hygrocybe ceracea has adnate to short-decurrent gills (see Appendix). Hygrophorus lucorum is a viscid yellow species which has a whitish stem. | Hygrocybe 'flavescens' Steve Trudell |
REMARKS If cap has pointed umbo and no red in the cap, consider Hygrocybe acutoconica group (see Appendix). If cap is obtuse to convex +/- depressed disc, gills are decurrent, and stem tinged red or orangy pink, consider Hygrocybe parvula (see Appendix).
IV C. Cap yellow, neither cap nor stem viscid.
1a Cap covered with tiny, scurfy, dull brown to black squamules
................................................................................see Hygrocybe turunda, in section VI.
1b Cap with fine, bran-like scales, but the scales are yellow, not brown or black
................................................................................2
REMARKS If cap is less than 1/2 inch wide and does not have scales, consider also Hygrocybe luteo-omphaloides (see Appendix). If cap is obtuse to convex +/- depressed disc, without scales, gills are decurrent, and stem tinged red or orangy pink, consider Hygrocybe parvula (see Appendix).
2a Flesh or cap thick and firm; top of stem sparsely covered with white granular powder
................................................................................see Hygrocybe squamulosa, in section VI.
2b Flesh of cap thin, soft and brittle; top of stem not covered with sparse white granular powder
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'miniata', in section VI.
V. Cap orange (may occasionally be bicolorous, with orange or reddish orange in the center, yellow on the margin).
V A. Cap orange, cap viscid, stem viscid.
1a All parts of the mushroom becoming black where bruised, and becoming black spontaneously with age and when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe singeri group, in section VI.
1b Not becoming black where bruised, in age, or on drying
................................................................................2
2a Stem stout, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, solid or with soft, webby pith; mushrooms associated only with larch
................................................................................Hygrophorus speciosus
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, convex to broadly umbonate, with persistently rounded margin, slimy, scarlet, reddish orange, or orange, fading to yellow, or often red or orange at center and yellow on margin; flesh thick, white to yellowish. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, white or yellow. STEM 2 to 4 or 6 inches long, lower part slimy, becoming stained dull orange as the slime dries, upper part dry, silky, white or pale tawny or tinged yellow or orange. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-10 x 4.5-6 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus speciosus Steve Trudell |
2b Stem slender, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, hollow; mushrooms associated with trees other than larch, or sometimes in grassy, open places
................................................................................3
3a Taste very bitter
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'reae', in section VI.
3b Taste not bitter
................................................................................4
4a Gills decurrent, pale pink or pale grayish lilac
................................................................................see Gliophorus laetus, in section II.
4b Gills not decurrent, yellow, often retaining a slight trace of their original green color where they are fastened to the flesh of the cap
................................................................................see Gliophorus psittacinus, in section IX.
V B. Cap orange, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a Taste intensely and persistently bitter
................................................................................see Hygrophorus amarus, in section II.
1b Taste not bitter
................................................................................2
2a All parts of the mushroom staining black where cut or bruised, and becoming black with age and on drying
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'conica', in section VI.
2b Not staining black where cut or bruised, with age, or on drying
................................................................................3
3a Stem red, at least at first; gills with a definite red cast
................................................................................see Hygrocybe coccinea group and Hygrocybe 'punicea', in section VI.
3b Stem yellow, gills orange or yellow
................................................................................4
4a Cap cone-shaped; flesh of cap red just below the surface; cap regaining its original red color when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe cuspidata, in section VI.
4b Cap convex to flat, not cone-shaped; flesh of cap not red below the surface; cap not turning red when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'flavescens', in section IV.
V C. Cap orange, cap not viscid, stem not viscid.
1a All parts of the mushroom becoming black where cut or bruised, and becoming black spontaneously with age and when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'conica', in section VI.
1b Not staining black where cut or bruised, in age or when dried
................................................................................2
2a Cap covered with tiny, chaffy, gray-brown or black scales, conspicuous against the orange ground color
................................................................................see Hygrocybe turunda, in section VI.
2b Cap lacking brown or black scales (but may have scales that are the same color as the ground color)
................................................................................3
3a Cap covered with tiny, chaffy scales; cap becoming scarlet when soaked with water
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'miniata' and Hygrocybe squamulosa, in section VI.
3b Cap smooth, lacking tiny chaffy scales; or if it appears minutely scaly, it does not become scarlet when soaked with water
................................................................................4
4a Stem and gills red, at least at first
................................................................................see Hygrocybe coccinea group, in section VI.
4b Stem and gills never red
................................................................................5
5a Gills a persistent and brilliant chrome orange color; stem hollow
................................................................................Humidicutis marginata var. marginata
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, cone-shaped and remaining so or becoming convex or bellshaped, smooth; flesh thin, very fragile, orange. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS deeply rounded at the stem, not decurrent, broad. STEM 3 to 5 inches long, smooth, satiny, pale orange, fragile. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4-6 microns; PL. | Humidicutis marginata var marginata Eleanor Yarrow |
5b Gills apricot color or salmon buff, not brilliant orange, and tending to fade with age; stem solid, or filled with a soft webby pith
................................................................................Cuphophyllus pratensis group
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, often becoming flat or with upturned margin, smooth or minutely fibrillose (but not scaly), orange or reddish cinnamon fading to buff, or buff from the first; flesh thick, soft. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent. STEM 3 to 4 inches long, up to 1 inch thick, smooth, same color as cap. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-8 x 2.5-5 microns; IW. REMARKS ITS-DNA suggests more than one species in Pacific Northwest in this group. Also, according to Largent, Cuphophyllus pratensis is sometimes fairly fragrant, and can then be nearly identical with Cuphophyllus graveolens (see Appendix) which is identified by light pinkish cinnamon colors, hoary cap, and slightly larger spores (6-9 x 4-6 microns). Cuphophyllus hygrocyboides is orange-brown and found in northern alpine areas. | Cuphophyllus pratensis group Steve Trudell |
VI. Cap some shade of bright or deep red, such as vermilion, scarlet, blood red, cherry red, etc., but NOT purplish red or wine red or brownish red.
VI A. Cap red, cap viscid, stem viscid.
1a All parts of the mushroom becoming black where bruised or cut, and becoming black spontaneously in age and when dried
................................................................................Hygrocybe singeri group
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, cone-shaped, slimy, red, reddish orange, or yellow; flesh greenish yellow, very soft. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS narrowly attached to stem (not decurrent), pale orange then greenish yellow. STEM 1 1/2 to 4 inches long, less than 1/4 inch thick, smooth, slimy, hollow, pale orange-yellow then greenish yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-12 x 5-6 microns; PL. NOTES Note that the only difference between Hygrocybe singeri and Hygrocybe 'conica' is the slimy stem of Hygrocybe singeri. | Hygrocybe singeri group Boleslaw Kuznik |
1b Not becoming black where cut or bruised, in age or when dried
................................................................................2
2a Taste very bitter; small slender mushrooms
................................................................................Hygrocybe 'reae'
CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, convex, brilliant red, or bright red at center and brilliant orange on the margin (bicolorous), fading to chrome yellow with age or upon losing moisture; flesh thin, brittle, red, fading to yellow. ODOR none. TASTE very bitter. GILLS adnate (not decurrent), pallid at first, becoming yellow. STEM 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, 1/8 inch or less thick, very fragile, same color as the cap and fading like the cap. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-9 x 4-5.5 microns; PL.
2b Taste not bitter; medium sized to large, stout mushrooms
................................................................................see Hygrophorus speciosus, in section V.
REMARKS if very small and not bitter, consider Hygrocybe minutula (see Appendix).
VI B. Cap red, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a All parts of the mushroom becoming black where bruised or cut, and becoming black spontaneously with age, and when dried
................................................................................Hygrocybe 'conica'
| CAP 1/2 to 4 inches broad, cone-shaped, smooth, slightly viscid but soon dry and smooth, silky and then not appearing viscid, scarlet or orange or yellow, sometimes with greenish tinges, soon blackening; flesh thin, fragile, same color as the surface. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS very narrowly attached (nearly free), broad, thick, pale yellow-orange or yellow with an olive tinge. STEM 2 to 8 inches long, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, fragile, satiny-shining, longitudinally streaked, red, orange, yellow, or with a greenish tinge. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-12 x 5.5-6.5 microns; PL. NOTES Note that the only visible difference between Hygrocybe 'conica' and Hygrocybe singeri group is the viscid stem of Hygrocybe singeri group. | Hygrocybe 'conica' Norman Evans |
1b Not becoming black where cut or bruised, or with age, or when dried
................................................................................2
2a Very small, slender, fragile mushrooms; cap 1/2 inch broad, stem 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick
................................................................................Hygrocybe subminiata
CAP 1/2 inch broad, convex to flat, scarlet, smooth. GILLS decurrent, white or tinged yellowish buff. STEM 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick, yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 3-5 microns; PL. REMARKS Other very small red species include Hygrocybe minutula and Hygrocybe subminutula (see under H. minutulus in Appendix) which have viscid cap and stem.
2b Medium sized to large, stout mushrooms; cap 1-3 inches or more broad, stem 1/4 to 3/4 inch thick
................................................................................3
3a Stem red at least at first, but often fading to orange or yellow; gills with a definite red cast at first; cap bluntly cone-shaped or merely broadly umbonate
................................................................................4
3b Stem yellow from the first, never red; gills orange or yellow, lacking any red color; cap sharply cone-shaped
................................................................................Hygrocybe cuspidata
CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, slimy, scarlet, fading to orange or yellow-orange, but regaining the red color when dried; flesh thin, red under the surface, yellow elsewhere. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS free or nearly so, orange or yellow. STEM 2 to 7 inches long, 1/8 to 3/8 inch thick, satiny, longitudinally streaked, yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-12 x 4-7 microns; PL. REMARKS fruiting is usually May through August; Hygrocybe acutoconica group are never red and fruit spring through fall (see Appendix).
4a Viscid surface of the cap well-developed, evident, and persistent
................................................................................Hygrocybe punicea
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, deep blood red, fading to orange in streaks then entirely; flesh thin, fragile, red or orange. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS not decurrent, broad, thick, red fading to orange or yellow. STEM as long as, or twice as long as, the width of the cap, stout, satiny, longitudinally streaked, red, fading to orange or yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-11 x 4-6 microns; PL. | Hygrocybe punicea Boleslaw Kuznik |
4b Viscid surface of cap thin, very poorly defined, or more frequently lacking
................................................................................Hygrocybe coccinea group
| CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, smooth, scarlet; flesh fragile, red to orange. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, broad, thick, red or orange-red or yellowish orange. STEM 2 to 3 inches long, stout, smooth, satiny red, soon yellow at the base. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10.5 x 4-5 microns; PL. REMARKS Stem base tends to yellow or orange in H. coccinea group (white or sometimes yellow in Hygrocybepunicea)', although orange base can be covered with white mycelium in moist conditions; H. punicea' also tends to be larger, more robust, and more common, and have a more distinctly striate stem. | Hygrocybe coccinea group Boleslaw Kuznik |
VI C. Cap red, cap not viscid, stem not viscid.
1a All parts of the mushroom becoming black where cut or bruised, and becoming black spontaneously with age, and when dried
................................................................................see Hygrocybe 'conica', in subgroup B, this section.
1b Not becoming black where cut or bruised, in age, or upon drying
................................................................................2
2a Stem stout, 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick
................................................................................see Hygrocybe coccinea group, in subgroup B, this section.
2b Stem slender, 1/4 inch or less thick
................................................................................3
3a Cap covered with tiny, chaffy, gray-brown to black scales, conspicuous against the red ground color
................................................................................Hygrocybe turunda
| CAP 3/8 to 1 1/4 inch broad, convex then shallowly concave in the center, scarlet when wet, fading to orange then yellow upon losing moisture, but becoming red again when re-moistened; flesh thin, orange. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, pale dingy yellow, broad, distant. STEM 1 to 2 1/4 inches long, 1/8 to 3/16 inch thick, orange, satiny, with top and base paler. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-14 x 5-8 microns; PL. REMARKS The entry in the original key is called Hygrophorus turundus with a page number in Hesler & Smith (1963) that corresponds to Hygrophorus turundus var. turundus, with Hygrophorus turundus var. sphagnophila directly after that. Hesler & Smith differentiate them in their key by the darkening of cap scale tips, with cap scale tips over disc for var. turundus “dark brown to fuscous at maturity”, and cap scale tips and fibrils for var. sphagnophila “orange-yellowish, darkening only slightly or not at all”. Habitat is “moist soil and wet moss, often on Sphagnum at high elevation for var. turundus and ‘in Sphagnum bogs” for var. sphagnophilus. They studied many collections of var. turundus from the Pacific Northwest as well as eastern North America but their collections studied for var. sphagnophilus were all from eastern North America. But most authorities treat the varieties independently, often relegating var. sphagnophila as a synonym or as a var. sphagnophila of Hygrocybe coccineocrenata. Hygrocybe 'miniata' is differentiated from Hygrocybe turunda var. sphagnophila by smaller spores – its scales tend to stay cap-coloured; Hygrocybe cantharellus (see Appendix) is found in a variety of habitats and has non-darkening scales and orange to yellow decurrent gills. | Hygrocybe turunda Sara Clark |
3b Cap lacking gray-brown to black squamules (but is covered with tiny scales the same color as the ground color)
................................................................................4
4a Flesh of cap thick and firm; top of stem rather sparsely covered with white, granular powder
................................................................................Hygrocybe squamulosa
CAP 1/2 to 2 inches broad, convex, bright red when wet, fading to orange then yellow on losing moisture, but regaining the red color when re-moistened, smooth when wet, becoming covered with bran-like scales on drying; flesh red, fading like the cap. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, reddish to pale yellow, broad. STEM 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, up to 1/4 inch thick, yellow or tinged with red, hollow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-9 x 4-5 microns; PL. NOTES see note following the description of Hygrocybe 'miniata'.
4b Flesh of cap thin, soft, and brittle; top of stem lacking white granular powder
................................................................................Hygrocybe 'miniata'
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches broad, convex, often becoming shallowly concave at center, bright scarlet when moist, fading to orange then yellow, regaining red color when moistened, appearing smooth when wet, but seen to be covered with tiny, chaffy scales when dry; flesh red, fading like the surface. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate to subdecurrent, red fading to orange or yellow. STEM 1 to 3 inches long, about 1/8 inch thick, smooth, red, fading like the cap. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 4-5 microns; PL. NOTES This and Hygrocybe squamulosa are almost impossible to separate; the differences are too slight and subjective. REMARKS This is not the true Hygrocybe miniata of Europe. Hygrocybe constans is a similar species described from Oregon but it is unknown how common it is. Hygrocybe substrangulata is also similar but has mostly been identified by ITS DNA (BC, WA, OR, ID). Hesler & Smith differentiate Hygrocybe squamulosa on the basis of occasional filamentous cheilocystidia in Hygrocybe squamulosa and no cheilocystidia in Hygrocybe 'miniata'. Hygrocybe turunda has larger spores than Hygrocybe 'miniata' and tends to grow on Sphagnum; Hygrocybe cantharellus compared with Hygrocybe 'miniata' has a drier cap, longer stem (according to Smith and Hesler (2) 4-9 (12) cm versus 3-5 (7) cm), paler colors, deeply decurrent gills, and usually longer spores (see Appendix). | Hygrocybe 'miniata' Kit Scates Barnhart |
VII. Cap brownish purple, wine red, purplish red, or streaked or mottled with these colors on a white or pallid ground color.
VII A. Cap purple, cap viscid, stem viscid.
1a Stem less than 1/4 inch thick, slender, about 10 times as long as thick; cap thin-fleshed, becoming concave in the center; gills pink or pale grayish lavender
................................................................................see Gliophorus laetus, in section II.
1b Stem 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, stout, 5-6 times as long as thick; cap thick-fleshed, convex or umbonate; gills white or pallid
................................................................................see Hygrophorus vernalis, in section II.
VII B. Cap purple, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a Odor strong of green corn
................................................................................Cuphophyllus rainierensis
| CAP 3/8 to 1 1/4 inch thick, convex, dull dark purple, fading to ashy gray at the center, and dingy buff on the margin. ODOR strong of green corn. GILLS decurrent, at first pale dull purplish, becoming dingy buff, narrow. STEM about as long as the width of the cap, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, smooth, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7 x 4-5.5 microns; IW. REMARKS Hygrophorus nordmanensis (see Appendix) also has green corn odor, but is violaceous brown and has longer spores. | Cuphophyllus rainierensis Ben Woo |
1b Odor not of green corn
................................................................................2
2a A fibrillose veil present between stem and margin of cap, visible on unopened caps, leaving a zone of fibrils on the stem for a time after the cap has expanded
................................................................................Hygrophorus purpurascens group
| CAP 2 to 6 inches broad, convex, entirely dull dark reddish purple at first, remaining so at the center, becoming pink at the margin; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white, becoming shell pink, soon spotted and stained with red. STEM 1 1/2 to 4 inches long, 3/8 to 1 inch thick, pinkish spotted and streaked with reddish purple, usually entirely dark reddish purple at the base. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-7 x 3-4.5 microns; DV. REMARKS There seem to be two Pacific Northwest species, but they are not the same species as Hygrophorus purpurascens in Europe. | Hygrophorus purpurascens group Steve Trudell |
2b Fibrillose veil absent between margin of cap and stem
................................................................................3
3a Gills close
................................................................................Hygrophorus russula group
| CAP 2 to 5 inches broad, convex, with inrolled finely cottony margin (but no veil!) at first, orange-pink, coral pink, or deep wine color, or purplish red at center and pink on the margin; flesh thick, white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, becoming decurrent, white, soon flushed with pink, then spotted with purplish red, or becoming entirely dingy purplish red. STEM about as long as width of cap, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch thick, white then streaked or stained pink, finally same color as the cap, often staining yellow where bruised. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 3-4.5 microns; DV. REMARKS The group includes H. russula, H. parvirussula, and the Pacific Northwest representative designated Hygrophorus ‘parvirussula PNW11’. | Hygrophorus russula group Michael Beug |
3b Gills well spaced (subdistant to distant)
................................................................................4
4a Cap, gills, and stem all uniformly dark reddish purple when the mushroom is mature
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'capreolarius'
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, purplish red from the first, often with darker spots at the center; flesh white to reddish. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate then decurrent, at first pallid, becoming pinkish then reddish purple, well spaced. STEM 2-5 inches long, 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, white, becoming reddish purple like the cap, but the top becoming paler. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-8 x 4.5-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus 'capreolarius' Michael Beug |
4b Cap, gills, and stem not uniformly reddish purple in mature specimens
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'erubescens'
| CAP 1 to 4 inches broad, convex, dark purplish red to brownish purple at the center, pallid to flesh pink at the margin, frequently streaked and spotted with darker fibrils; flesh thick, white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate then decurrent, pale pink or pinkish cream, soon spotted and stained with red. STEM short and stout, rather rough-fibrous, white at the top, elsewhere brownish wine red, often staining yellow where bruised. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-11 x 5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS The name Hygrophorus erubescens has been abandoned because the name can only be typified by plates that represent Rhodocollybia maculata. Hygrophorus neoerubescens was documented in Europe and British Columbia, but collections elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest resembling Hygrophorus erubescens in appearance or ITS-DNA have been falling under Hygrophorus sp. 'UT01'. | Hygrophorus 'erubescens' Michael Beug |
NOTE The four preceding taxa, H. purpurascens group, H. russula group, H. 'capreolarius', and H. 'erubescens', are difficult to distinguish one from another, because of their similarity in size, color, and general appearance. The fibrillose veil is unique to H. purpurascens group, and unless it has been obliterated by careless handling, is a sure sign of that species. The close, almost crowded gills and preference from growing under hardwoods distinguish H. russula group (which is not as common as the others in Washington); the distinctly larger spores (if one has a microscope) will distinguish H. 'erubescens' from H. 'capreolarius', or if the spores cannot be measured, the uniform wine red color, especially of the gills, characterizes mature specimens of H. 'capreolarius'. Very young specimens of H. russula group, H. 'capreolarius', and H. 'erubescens' would be difficult to separate, and overmature, weathered, or badly discolored plants of all four taxa probably would be impossible to tell apart.
VII C. Cap purple, neither cap nor stem viscid.
Only one species
................................................................................see Hygrocybe cinerea, in section VIII.
VIII. Cap uniformly some shade of brown (rusty brown, umber, cinnamon brown, tobacco brown, olive brown, gray-brown, etc.), or gray. (not bicolorous, as in III, except Hygrophorus boyeri and Hygrophorus siccipeswhich see)
VIII A. Cap brown or gray, cap viscid, stem viscid.
1a Stem slender (1/4 inch or less thick), hollow
................................................................................2
1b Stem stout (more than 1/4 inch thick), solid, or filled with a webby pith
................................................................................3
2a Cap and stem dark gray-brown or slate gray; gills adnate, not decurrent, white, or tinged pale gray
................................................................................Gliophorus 'irrigatus'
CAP 3/4 to 2 inches broad, convex, finally nearly flat, slimy; flesh thin, white or grayish. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS deeply notched at the stem, rather thick. STEM longer than the width of the cap, slimy, gray, fragile. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4-5 microns. REMARKS Dark gray-brown Gliophorus collections are reported but the correct name(s) are uncertain. Both Gliophorus irrigatus and Gliophorus unguinosus are similar European species. There is also a grayish-tan species that gets silver-metallic as it dries. PL.
2b Cap dull olive brown; gills decurrent, pink or pale grayish lavender (stem usually also the same color)
................................................................................see Gliophorus laetus, in section II.
3a (1b) Gills and stem pale yellow to bright yellow
................................................................................H. hypothejus group
| CAP 1 to 3 inches broad, convex or slightly umbonate, dark umber to dark olive brown or blackish brown at the center, elsewhere paler brown, ocher, or greenish yellow, often becoming brighter yellow or orange or even red on the margin when older; flesh yellow under the surface, elsewhere white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, white at first, becoming yellow, then the same color as the margin of the cap. STEM 1 to 2 times as long as the width of the cap, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, silky and yellow at the top, elsewhere glutinous and brown, yellow, olive yellow, orange, or scarlet. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5 microns; DV. REMARKS These two species in the Pacific Northwest were described this way in the original key under the European name Hygrophorus hypothejus following the Hesler & Smith concept (1963) concept; Hesler & Smith also describe Hygrophorus siccipes separately (see Appendix). North American material is now differentiated under the names Hygrophorus boyeri and Hygrophorus siccipes in Moreau et al. 2018. Hygrophorus siccipes has 1) a cap with darker colors that are dark brown to dark reddish, fading to dull ocher-brown or dingy orange, whereas the cap of H. boyeri is olivaceous brown to olivaceous yellow on a yellow background (sometimes orange-yellow or red-tinted), 2) a less slender stature with a stem that is more orange when old and tends to be viscid or dry, not glutinous, and 3) 3-8 um wide thromboplerous hyphae in the hymenial trama lacking in H. siccipes. [I.G. derived from Moreau et al. 2018.] | Hygrophorus hypothejus group Boleslaw Kuznik |
3b Gills and stem white or pallid, lacking yellow colors
................................................................................4
4a Top of stem (the dry part, above the slimy sheath) covered with conspicuous dark gray dots or granules
................................................................................Hygrophorus pustulatoides
| CAP 3/4 to 2 inches broad, convex, ash gray, with darker brownish gray center, often covered with darker gray dots or granules; flesh soft, white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate or slightly decurrent, white. STEM 2 to 4 inches long, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, pallid to pale gray. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5 microns; DV. NOTES This species is often mistaken for Hygrophorus agathosmoides - subgroup B of this section - but differs in its lack of almond odor, and its slimy stem. REMARKS Hesler & Smith give stem as 0.5 to 0.8 cm thick. | Hygrophorus pustulatoides Ben Woo |
4b Top of stem lacking any gray dots or granules
................................................................................5
REMARKS If stem is fuscous dotted or scabrous, but cap 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches broad, consider Hygrophorus fuligineus (see Appendix).
5a Glutinous sheath of the stem underlain by a layer of black or very dark olive gray fibrils that form conspicuous patches and irregular bands as the stem lengthens
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'olivaceoalbus'
| CAP 1 1/2 to 5 inches broad, convex or flat or slightly concave at the center, slimy, black or very dark smoky olive at the center conspicuously streaked toward the margin with olive gray to black fibrils; flesh thick, white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate to slightly decurrent, white, occasionally tinged with gray. STEM 3 to 5 inches long, 3/8 to 1 1/4 inches thick, smoky olive to blackish below, white and silky at the top. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-12 x 5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS Collections identified as this species in western North America represent at least a) the true Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus, collected in Europe, California, and spruce forest on the west coast of Vancouver Island, b) Hygrophorus fuscoalboides (see that species account), and c) Hygrophorus whitei (California and the Pacific Northwest). There could be other species among the identified collections that have not been sequenced. Siegel et al.(2025) wrote “Criteria to distinguish H. fuscoalboides from H. olivaceoalbus in the field are currently lacking; however, the latter may be darker colored. Both species tend to be larger with more gray tones than H. whitei, a smaller, more slender species with a gray-brown to dark brown cap.” | Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus Ben Woo |
5b Lower part of stem, beneath the glutinous sheath, white or pallid, lacking black or olive-gray fibrils
................................................................................6
6a Stem short and stout, 1/2 inch or more thick, scarcely longer than the width of the cap
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'fuscoalbus'
| CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, convex, dark brownish gray becoming ash gray; flesh grayish white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate or decurrent, white with a slight flush of pinkish cream when mature. STEM white, with a layer or wooly white fibrils underneath the slime sheath. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-13 x 5.5-7 microns; DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus fuscoalboides is a similar species with a dry stem (see Appendix) that is difficult to tell from Hygrophorus whitei and Hygrophorus olivaceoumbrinus. If cap is 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches broad and spores 7-9 x 4.5 x 5.5, consider Hygrophorus fuligineus (see Appendix). | Hygrophorus fuscoalbus Kit Scates Barnhart |
6b Stem long and slender, less than 1/2 inch thick, and twice as long or more than twice as long as the width of the cap
................................................................................Hygrophorus megasporus
CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, convex, dark olive-gray-brown, becoming paler at the margin; flesh thin, white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate or slightly decurrent, white. STEM white, lacking a sheath of fibrils beneath the slime sheath. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 12-20 x 7-9 microns; DV. NOTES The only sure way to separate Hygrophorus 'fuscoalbus' and Hygrophorus megasporus is by the size of the spores, since the dimensions of the mushrooms as given in the key lead may well overlap.
REMARKS If stem less than 1/2 inch thick, but stem not twice as long as cap, and cap +/- stem gray, consider Hygrophorus occidentalis (see Appendix).
VIII B. Cap brown or gray, cap viscid, stem not viscid.
1a Gills shell pink or rose pink (from the first)
................................................................................Hygrophorus calophyllus
| CAP 2 to 5 inches broad, convex or shallowly umbonate, uniformly dark umber or dark smoky olive brown; flesh white, thick. ODOR faintly fragrant. TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, narrow. STEM as long as the width of the cap, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, same color as the cap or somewhat paler. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-8 x 4-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus calophyllus Ben Woo |
1b Gills not pink (may be white, gray, pale buff, or pale dingy grayish lilac)
................................................................................2
2a Odor strong and characteristic
................................................................................3
2b Odor none, or faint but not special or distinctive
................................................................................5
3a Odor of green corn
................................................................................see Cuphophyllus ranierensis, in section VII.
3b Odor not of green corn
................................................................................4
4a Odor of almond (i.e. almond flavoring, benzaldehyde)
................................................................................Hygrophorus agathosmoides
| CAP 1 1/2 to 5 inches broad, convex, slimy, ash gray or pale gray-brown; flesh soft, white. ODOR almond. TASTE mild. GILLS adnate, sometimes becoming slightly decurrent, white, becoming tinged grayish in age. STEM as long as the width of the cap or half again as long, up to an inch thick in large specimens, white, often tinged with gray in age. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-10.5 x 4.5-5.5 microns; DV. NOTES see the note under Hygrophorus pustulatoides, subgroup A, this section. REMARKS Hygrophorus albofloccosus is also almond scented, but is larger on average and usually more robust, tends to have a more grayish cap, and bears stem floccules that do not turn grayish brown. Other almond scented species include Hygrophorus bakerensis, Hygrophorus monticola, Hygrophorus odoratus, Hygrophorus variicolor, and Hygrophorus vinicolor. | Hygrophorus agathosmoides Michael Beug |
4b Odor penetrating and aromatic, but not of almond
................................................................................see Hygrophorus pacificus, in section III.
5a (2b) Mature cap cinnamon brown or reddish brown with slight purplish cast; gills pale dingy grayish lilac
................................................................................Cuphophyllus 'colemannianus'
| CAP 1/2 to 2 inches broad, convex or shallowly umbonate, marked on the margin with translucent lines when wet; flesh brown. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent. STEM 1 1/4 to 3 inches long, about 1/4 inch thick, white. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 4.5-6 microns; IW. | Cuphophyllus 'colemannianus' Boleslaw Kuznik |
5b Mature cap gray, olive gray, or dark grayish olive brown
................................................................................6
REMARKS If 5a and 5b do not fit, cap is dark yellowish brown, gills grayish brown, and stem grayish pallid, consider Hygrophorus avellaneifolius (see Appendix). If 5a and 5b do not fit, cap is dingy yellowish brown with buff margin, appearing fibrillose streaked, gills and stem are whitish, and stem has median fibrillose zone, consider Hygrophorus siccipes (see Appendix). If 5a and 5b do not fit, cap is hygrophanous violet-gray-brown, gills decurrent and violet-gray, and stem white or tinged cap color, consider Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group (see Appendix).
6a Cap, stem, and gills white at first, soon becoming ash gray, dark slate gray, or dark gray with olive tones; growing only in early spring, usually close to melting snow
................................................................................Hygrophorus 'marzuolus'
| CAP 2 to 5 or 6 inches broad, convex, slightly viscid but soon becoming dry; flesh pallid. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, broad, thick. STEM as long as the width of the cap, 1/2 to 1 inch thick, surface dull. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-8.5 x 4.5-5 microns; DV. | Hygrophorus marzuolus Ben Woo |
6b Cap and stem colored from the first; gills white and remaining so
................................................................................Hygrophorus camarophyllus
| CAP 2 to 6 inches broad, convex, slightly viscid but soon becoming dry, dark smoky olive brown or blackish olive, often with darker and lighter streaks; flesh thick, white. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS adnate to decurrent, may be tinged gray in age. STEM about as long as cap width, up to 1 inch thick, same color as cap or paler. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5 microns; DV. REMARKS If stem 1/3 to 2/5 of an inch wide instead of 2/5 to 4/5 of an inch, and cap and lower stem are gray, consider Hygrophorus fuscoalboides (see Appendix). | Hygrophorus camarophyllus Andrew Parker |
REMARKS If cap is 1 to 2 inches broad, cap and stem dark gray brown, with violaceous to vinaceous brown gills, and often snowbank habitat, see Pseudoomphalina angelesiana in Appendix. If cap is 1 1/2 to 2 inches broad with acute umbo, cap and flesh grayish, gills white to pale gray, stem white, consider Hygrocybe americana (see Appendix). If cap is 1/2 to 2 inches broad, cap pallid to grayish brown or dark brown, stem white to brownish and furfuraceous-flocculent, consider Hygrophorous morrisii (see Appendix.). If cap is 1/2 to 1 inch broad, cap +/- stem olive brown, and especially if cap is circumferentially cracked, consider Cuphophyllus recurvatus (see Appendix).
VIII C. Cap brown or gray, neither cap nor stem viscid.
1a Gills bright orange; margin of mature cap orange
................................................................................see Humidicutis marginata var. olivacea, in section IX.
1b Gills not orange; margin of cap never becoming orange
................................................................................2
2a Cap 3/8 to 1 1/4 inches broad
................................................................................3
2b Cap 2 to 5 or 6 inches broad
................................................................................4
REMARKS If cap 1 1/4 to 2 1/4 inches broad with streaky dark grayish brown fibrils over cap and lower stem, and cap fringed with marginal remnants, see Hygrophours inocybiformis in Appendix. If cap 1 to 2 1/4 inches broad with hygrophanous violet-gray-brown, decurrent violet-gray gills, and stem white or tinged cap color, consider Cuphophyllus subviolaceus (see Appendix). If cap 1 to 2 inches broad with gray brown disc and vinaceous buff toward margin, gills are pale pinkish cinnamon, stem white, and odor almond, consider Hygrophorus vinicolor (see Appendix).
3a Cap smooth; gills dark grayish lilac; stem white or pallid
................................................................................Hygrocybe cinerea
CAP convex, dark purplish brown, fading to pale grayish lilac; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS decurrent, distant. STEM about as long as the width of the cap, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, pallid. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4.5-5.5 microns; IW.
3b Cap scaly; gills pale gray with or without a slight violet tinge; stem grayish brown
................................................................................Hygrocybe atro-olivacea
CAP convex, very dark blackish brown; flesh brittle, watery. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS somewhat decurrent, well spaced, thick. STEM 1 to 2 inches long, up to 3/8 inch thick, same color as the cap, but paler. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-6 x 3-4.5 microns; PL.
4a (2b) Cap, stem, and gills white at first, soon becoming ash gray, dark slate gray, or dark gray with olive tones; growing only in early spring, usually close to melting snow
................................................................................see Hygrophorus 'marzuolus', subgroup B, this section
4b Cap and stem colored from the first; gills white and remaining so, or occasionally tinged slightly gray in age; growing in the fall, rarely in the spring
................................................................................see Hygrophorus camarophyllus, subgroup B, this section
IX. Cap grass-green or olive-green.
As there are only two species in this section, the usual division into subgroups A, B, and C is not necessary.
1a Stem slimy
................................................................................Gliophorus psittacinus group
| CAP 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches broad, cone-shaped, bell-shaped, or convex, slimy, at first grass green or more bluish green, soon fading to buff, tawny, flesh color, yellow, ochre, or olive-orange, usually becoming pinkish cream color when dried; flesh thin, same color as the surface of the cap. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, green, soon becoming yellow to orange yellow, but sometimes retaining a trace of the green color where they fasten to the flesh of the cap. STEM twice as long as the width of the cap or longer, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, often hollow, green becoming yellow or orange, finally pinkish cream. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-9 x 4-5 microns; PL. | Gliophorus psittacinus Sara Clark |
1b Stem smooth and moist, but not viscid
................................................................................Humidicutis marginata var. olivacea
CAP 1 to 2 inches broad, moist or soapy-feeling, but not viscid, dark grayish olive green or dark brownish olive, remaining so at the center, the margin becoming orange; flesh thin and fragile, grayish olive. ODOR and TASTE not special. GILLS adnate, broad, bright orange, not fading or changing color with age. STEM 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, fragile, satiny, bright yellow-green, becoming pallid yellow tinged with green. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-8 x 4-5 microns; PL.
REMARKS The greenish blue Hygrophorus caeruleus with unpleasant odor might key out here (see Appendix).
I. Cap white.
CAP 0.8-1.2 cm, viscid, convex becoming shallowly depressed, white to pinkish, drying pallid to pinkish buff; flesh whitish. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent to adnate-decurrent, white becoming pale pink. STEM 2-3 x 0.2-0.3 cm, dry, pallid to dingy, bald or with appressed fibrils. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 11-16 x 8-12 microns; PL. REMARKS features include small size, white to pinkish viscid cap, snowbank habitat, and large spores: see Hygrophorus goetzii for other snowbank species.
CAP 3 cm, viscid, convex, white, becoming warm buff to ochraceous buff on drying; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate-decurrent, pallid. STEM 5 x 0.7 cm, viscid, pallid, bald up to fibrillose ring near top. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 10-14 x 6.5-7.5 microns. DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus velatus also has veil but H. velatus has smaller spores; Hygrophorus flavodiscus has smaller spores (6-8 x 3.5-5 microns) and lacks the fibrillose ring.
Hygrophorus cossus - see section II
Hygrophorus flavodiscus - see section II
Hygrophorus karstenii forma minor
CAP 3-5 cm, somewhat viscid but soon dry, broadly convex to nearly flat with inrolled margin, creamy white; flesh thick, soft, white. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, creamy yellowish. STEM 3-5 x 0.6-1.2 cm, dry, whitish. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4.5-5 microns; DV. REMARKS features include somewhat viscid chalk white cap, contrasting decurrent creamy yellowish gills, and dry whitish stem; H. saxatilis similar but has salmon to pinkish cinnamon gills and peach odor.
Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus
(Hygrophorus lawrencei Hesler & A.H. Sm. First described from Oregon, may be a synonym)
| CAP 1-3 cm, dry, broadly convex to uplifted, at first with conic umbo, white or with tinge of pale tan or yellowish, striate; flesh fragile, whitish. ODOR cedar (arborvitae). TASTE medicinal or almost like cedar. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, white, interveined. STEM 3-6 x 0.5-0.8 cm, dry, narrowing downward or more or less equal, white, may be twisted or curved. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10 x 4.5-6 microns; IW. REMARKS cedarlike odor is main distinctive feature: at times so faint as to be almost indistinct, but in these specimens medicinal taste can be used to identify species. | Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus Boleslaw Kuznik |
Hygrophorus subpungens - see section II
II. Cap ivory, pale cream, pale buff or beige, pale salmon or flesh color, pale yellowish or vinaceous buff or pallid cinnamon; usually uniformly colored, but the margin may be somewhat lighter than the center.
Hygrophorus albicarneus see section I
CAP 1-3.5 cm, viscid, convex becoming flat, hygrophanous, when young and fresh pale yellow fading to pinkish buff, striate when moist and mature; flesh thin but firm. ODOR faintly medicinal. TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, buff, unchanging when bruised but gradually becoming more yellow in age. STEM 5-7 x 0.25-0.4 cm, dull white, twisted-striate in some specimens. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9(10) x 4-5 microns, IW.
| CAP 5-9 cm, broadly convex, cream to dingy cream with a tint of blue, especially over margin, felty, moist to touch but not viscid, bald, coarsely cracked with areolate areas, older caps may develop fibrillose scales; flesh dingy cream color tinted bluish green, bruising bluish-gray to blue-green but soon fading. ODOR strong disagreeable odor of rancid meal. TASTE mild at first but soon unpleasant. GILLS broadly adnate to short decurrent, close to subdistant or in age distant, bluish green. STEM 2.5-5 x 1.5-2.5 cm, narrowing abruptly at base; bluish-green to dingy light brown, nearly cream at top; dry, pruinose at top, the rest with appressed fibrils, usually twisted somewhat, base with numerous white rhizomorphs. MICROSTRUCTURES spores (6.5)7-9 x 4-5 microns, inamyloid; IW. REMARKS This species was not included in the Hesler and Smith monograph as it was not described until 1984: it is distinctive by its color supported by its robust stature and rancid farinaceous odor. | Hygrophorus caeruleus.jpg) Boleslaw Kuznik (MykoWeb) |
CAP 3-7 cm, slimy, obtuse expanding to nearly flat, whitish or "pale pinkish-buff", at maturity becoming slightly more ochraceous or flushed salmon color and retaining either tint in drying; flesh soft, white. ODOR distinctly aromatic. TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate to decurrent, white becoming salmon-buff. STEM 4-9 x (0.3)0.8-1.2 cm, slimy gluten covers lower part, white becoming yellowish, lower part salmon-buff to cinnamon-buff in age, fibrillose-punctate to scabrous at top, lower part covered by slimy gluten; thin inner white fibrillose veil, covered with slimy glutinous layer. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-4.5 microns; DV.
| CAP 2.5-6 cm, slightly viscid soon dry, convex-depressed, white becoming apricot-orange; flesh soft, white. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, white becoming tinged apricot, when dried pallid to ochraceous buff. STEM 5-9 x 0.4-1.2 cm, dry, white drying pallid to grayish, twisted fibrillose-striate, top silky to slightly pruinose. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9.5 x 4-4.5 microns; DV. REMARKS H. saxatilis and H. karstenii forma minor are similar but differ in gill color: both have yellow gills at first. | Hygrophorus ellenae Michael Beug |
| CAP 2-7 cm, slimy, convex to flat; white with disc that is yellow to orange or orange tan, the color eventually spreading over the whole cap, or if covered by leaves the cap may remain white; flesh firm, thick, white. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS adnate or decurrent, pinkish becoming whitish, sometimes interveined. STEM 3-7.5 x 0.6-1.4 cm, slimy nearly to top, white or somewhat stained with yellow, fibrillose or dotted at top, slimy universal veil, ring gelatinous. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 3.5-5 microns; DV. REMARKS differentiated from Hygrophorus 'gliocyclus' by having gills pinkish fading to whitish, usually more slender stem, cap white when fresh with yellow to orange disc, and smaller spores (6-8 x 3.5-5 microns), but both species have been considered synonyms of Hygrophorus ligatus (Fr.) Fr.; Hygrophorus albiflavus has a fibrillose ring and larger spores. | Hygrophorus flavodiscus John Plischke |
CAP 4-5(10) cm, glutinous, convex, broad umbo; disc "cream buff", rest of cap "ivory-yellow" drying bright "primuline yellow"; flesh white. ODOR and TASTE none. GILLS adnate to rounded-adnate, broad near stem, abruptly narrowed near margin, white then "ivory-yellow". STEM 4-9 x 0.8-1.5 cm, glutinous-viscid and floccose-tomentose up to collar near top, white, slime leaving yellowish-brown stains or spots (simulating reticulations), watery drops near top dry to form reddish dots. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-10 x 5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus flavodiscus does not have pronounced red dots near top of stem, and has smaller spores (6-8 x 3.5-5 microns).
| CAP 2-5 cm, slimy-viscid, obtuse to broadly convex, at times slightly depressed, rosy-pink fading to cream and drying grayish pinkish-buff; flesh thin, pallid to cream. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS broadly adnate, subdistant to distant, pallid to cream drying grayish pinkish-buff. STEM 3-6 x 0.3-0.8 cm, dry, cream drying grayish pinkish-buff, silky smooth top, hairy base. HABITAT in mountainous areas, often near snowbanks. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 12-15 x 7-9 microns; DV. REMARKS Other snowbank species include according to Largent Hygrophorus albicarneus with white to pinkish cap, decurrent gills, inamyloid spores 11-16 x 8-12 microns, and parallel gill trama, Hygrophorus subalpinus with fleshy fruiting body, white cap and stem, decurrent gills, fibrillose partial veil, inamyloid spores 8-10 x 4.6-6.1 microns, and divergent gill trama, Hygrophorus vernalis with vinaceous viscid cap, decurrent sordid whitish gills, inamyloid spores 11-15 x 8-10.2 microns, and divergent gill trama, and Pseudoomphalina angelesiana with scalloped-pleated cap margin, purplish drab adnate to decurrent gills, amyloid spores 7-10 x 4.6-6.6 microns, and interwoven gill trama. | Hygrophorus goetzii Boleslaw Kuznik |
CAP 3-6.5 cm, dry or moist, not hygrophanous, convex, orange-white to pale pinkish cinnamon beneath pale cinnamon hoary coating, becoming paler toward margin; flesh pinkish cinnamon. ODOR sweetish and sickening according to Hesler and Smith, but according to Largent decidedly fragrant at first, becoming faint with age but always detectable. TASTE mild. GILLS adnate to short decurrent, subdistant to distant, colored as cap or slightly darker, interveined. STEM 4-7 x 0.5-1.4 cm, narrowing downward, solid, colored as cap but generally lighter; silky-striate, somewhat hoary at first. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4.5-5.5 microns; IW. REMARKS similar to Cuphophyllus pratensis group but light pinkish cinnamon with fragrant odor: according to Largent, when Cuphophyllus pratensis is fairly fragrant, nearly identical and Cuphophyllus graveolens is identified by light pinkish cinnamon colors, hoary cap, and slightly larger spores (6-9 x 4-6 microns instead of 5-8 x 4-5.5 microns).
Hygrophorus karstenii forma minor - see section I.
Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus - see section I.
CAP 1.5-3(4)cm, viscid, obtusely conical when young becoming flat or with slight umbo; dull whitish at first, developing a yellowish or more often pinkish brown to salmon brown to light yellowish brown discoloration on the disc, which may spread over the whole cap; flesh thin, soft, dull white, then sometimes browner. ODOR faint spicy fragrant (Hesler & Smith), faintly aromatic, sweet or fruity, fades quickly with maturity, (Largent). TASTE mild. GILLS adnate becoming short-decurrent, whitish at first then quickly pale pinkish cinnamon to almost cinnamon. STEM 2.5-4 x 0.3-0.7 cm, dry, whitish, becoming dingy where handled; pruinose all over becoming bald. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-8 x 4.5-5 microns (Hesler & Smith), 6.6-10.2 x 4.1-6.1 microns, (Largent); DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus 'discoideus' has a glutinous veil with remnants on stem, darker colors and larger spores.
III. Cap some shade of tan or brown, usually bright, in the center, pallid or almost white on the margin. (this color pattern is called "bicolorous")
CAP 2-5 cm, slimy to viscid, convex or with slight umbo, hazel to chestnut on disc, buff near margin, bald or slightly downy near margin; flesh thin, close to brick-color. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, narrow, whitish or tinged buff (yellowish in var. californicus). STEM 4-9 x 0.3-0.5 cm, (0.4-1.0 cm wide in var. californicus), slightly viscid in lower part, white, upper part with white fibrillose points, occasionally staining pale yellow at base. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-7 x 3.5-4.5 microns, (6-9 microns long in some European descriptions, and var. californicus 7-10 x 4-6 microns); DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus boyeri and Hygrophorus siccipes can look similar but Hygrophorus 'discoideus' differs in having a more yellow-brown to orange-brown cap with a darker center; like Hygrophorus bakerensis in color, but Hygrophorus 'discoideus' has viscid stem and mild odor; like Hygrophorus variicolor somewhat in color but H. variicolor is larger, with white gills that dry reddish brown, and an aromatic odor.
Hygrophorus flavodiscus - see section II
Hygrophorus glutinosus - see section II
Hygrophorus subpungens - see section II
| CAP 4-12 cm, viscid or glutinous, convex becoming depressed, whitish soon becoming dull yellowish brown over disc with whitish to pale orange-yellow margin, cap skin separable to disc, margin may be striate and floccose-fibrillose; flesh firm, white. ODOR distinct when young and fresh of raw potatoes. TASTE bitter. GILLS adnate becoming short-decurrent, venose at cap; white. STEM 6-10 x 0.8-1.8 cm, dry, narrowing downwards or nearly equal, solid, whitish or dingy; fibrillose-striate, upper part with tiny cottony scales. MICROSTRUCTURES spores (6)7-9 x 4.5-6 microns; DV. REMARKS This species is listed by Hesler & Smith for California and other states, but not the Pacific Northwest; however, Michael Beug has a photograph of a fruitbody from the Pacific Northwest identified by Daniel Stuntz as this species: it is distinctive by the combination of color pattern, potato odor, and bitter taste. | Hygrophorus tennesseensis Michael Beug |
CAP 1.5-3 cm, viscid, convex, expanding, very pale pinkish, bald; flesh medium thin, whitish. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, rather close to subdistant, medium broad, pale buff. STEM 3-5 x 0.4-0.6 cm, dry, equal, pallid to pale buff, white-fibrillose above veil remnants; veil copious, white-fibrillose. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-6(8) x 3.5-4 microns, DV.
IV. Cap definitely yellow, some bright shade such as lemon yellow, egg yolk yellow, deep yellow tinged with orange, etc.
| CAP 2-7 cm, viscid or slimy, conical at first and usually retaining pointed umbo, bright yellow to orange, the orange usually toward the center; flesh yellow. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS adnexed to free, yellow. STEM 5-8 x 0.3-0.6 cm, moist or lubricous but not truly viscid, yellow to yellow orange, base may blacken. HABITAT on soil or decayed wood of logs and stumps, may be in bogs. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-15 x 5-9 microns; PL. REMARKS According to D. Miller, there may or may not be fine black scales on the cap. There appear to be at least 3 phylogenetic species in the Pacific Northwest, of which the true Hygrocybe acutoconica may be one, and other existing names could apply to the others. Hygrocybe 'conica' blackens all over, has white or yellow-tinged gills, and cap may be red. Hygrocybe cuspidata fruits May through August, and is red initially fading to orange or yellow; the red color generally returns with drying. | Hygrocybe acutoconica Michael Beug |
Hygrocybe cantharellus see section VI.
| CAP 1-4 cm, slightly viscid, convex, disc may be depressed; hygrophanous, golden yellow fading to straw yellow; flesh yellowish. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS broadly adnate to subdecurrent, broadest near stem, pale yellow to near white. STEM 2-5 x 0.2-0.4 cm, slightly viscid but soon dry, colored as cap, hollow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5.5-8 x 4-5 microns; PL. REMARKS Some collections are dark orange to almost red, making them easily confused with many other species. Bright yellow collections can be confused with with Hygrocybe 'flavescens' which has narrowly attached gills. | Hygrocybe ceracea Steve Trudell |
Hygrophorus flavodiscus - see section II.
Hygrocybe hondurensis - see section VI.
CAP 0.3-0.8 cm, moist, convex to broadly conic, hygrophanous, lemon yellow when young, more ochraceous in age, pale yellowish when faded; bald, not striate; flesh thin, fragile, colored as cap. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, yellow. STEM 1-1.5 x 0.05-0.1 cm, moist, solid or hollow; yellow, in age paler than cap or white below; bald. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6.5-9.5 x 4-5 microns. REMARKS rare; formerly Omphalina occidentalis, it was not treated by Hesler & Smith and consequently has never been a Hygrophorus; distinguished from omphalinoid species by combination of yellow colors throughout, small size, growth on moss and presence of clamp connections, and separated from small brightly colored Mycenas growing on moss or needles by absence of cystidia.
| CAP 1-3 cm, moist, at times subviscid, broadly obtuse to convex, sometimes with a depressed disc, hygrophanous, amber or apricot yellow or orange, sometimes fading to paler yellow, striate; flesh thin, same color as cap. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, interveined, whitish or pale yellowish to "wax yellow". STEM 3-6 x 0.2-0.3 cm, dry or moist, not viscid, lemon to amber yellow, often tinged red or orangy pink or rufous on the lower half. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7.7 x 3.5-5 microns; PL. REMARKS the stem is often more highly colored (pinkish red) than the cap. | Hygrocybe parvula Buck McAdoo |
| CAP 1-3 cm viscid, convex, may have broad umbo, hygrophanous, yellow, may be striate; flesh thin, yellow. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS short-decurrent to adnate, fairly broad, pale yellow. STEM 2-4 x 0.2-0.4 cm, dry, colored as cap or paler, base may be orange. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7.5 x 2.5-3.5 microns; PL. | Hygrocybe subceracea Buck McAdoo |
V. Cap orange.
Hygrocybe acutoconica - see section IV.
Hygrocybe cantharellus - see section VI.
Hygrocybe hondurensis - see section VI.
Hygrocybe minutula - see section VI.
Hygrocybe subceracea - see section IV.
VI. Cap some shade of bright or deep red, such as vermilion, scarlet, blood red, cherry red, etc. but not purplish red or wine red or brownish red.
| CAP 1-3.5 cm, dry, convex, disc often becoming depressed; scarlet becoming vermilion, when old ocher or yellowish; flesh colored as cap, thin. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS deeply decurrent, often triangular; orange to yellow (usually paler than cap). STEM 4-9(12) x 0.15-0.4 cm, dry, colored as cap or paler, base whitish or pallid yellowish. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-13 x 4-8 microns. PL. REMARKS Hygrocybe miniata has drier cap, longer stem, paler colors, arcuate-decurrent gills, and usually longer spores; Hygrocybe turunda tends to grown on Sphagnum, may have slightly darkening scales, and may have red or adnate gills. | Hygrocybe cantharellus Boleslaw Kuznik |
CAP 1-1.5 cm, very viscid, convex to slightly depressed; red to yellow; striate; flesh thin, deep yellow. GILLS short-decurrent, "ivory yellow". STEM 3-4 x 0.1-0.2 cm, very viscid, yellow. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 5-7 x 3-4.5 microns. PL. REMARKS rare, and Hesler & Smith identification for WA qualified by "in all probability".
| CAP 0.5-1.5 cm, viscid to lubricous, convex, disc not depressed; hygrophanous, bright red when young, with age remaining bright red on disc and becoming yellowish on margin, eventually fading to reddish orange on disc and orangish to orangish yellow on margin; bald; flesh colored as cap surface. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS adnate to adnexed or with decurrent tooth, close to subdistant, broad and somewhat broader in middle, yellowish when young, becoming orangish from the cap downward. STEM 1.5-5 x 0.1-0.3 cm, glutinous or viscid, stuffed becoming hollow, at first red in upper part, yellowish or whitish in lower part, fading to yellow over all in age. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-10.3 x 4-5(6) microns, (Hesler & Smith), 7-8.5 x 3-4 microns, (Largent), PL. REMARKS like Hygrocybe subminiata (in size) which is only slightly viscid, has white gills tinged yellow-buff; like Hygrocybe subminutula (recorded once from Florida, once from California) which has smaller spores (5-7 x 3-4 microns) but is otherwise identical according to Largent. | Hygrocybe minutula Peter Katsaros |
VII. Cap brownish purple, wine red, purplish red, or streaked or mottled with these colors on a white or pallid ground color.
Hygrophorus nordmanensis - see Section VIII.
Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group - see Section VIII.
VIII. Cap uniformly some shade of brown (rusty brown, umber, cinnamon brown, tobacco brown, olive brown, gray-brown, etc.) or gray. (not bicolorous, as in III)
CAP 3-4.5 cm, slightly viscid to viscid, conic with acute umbo, gray over umbo, browner toward margin; flesh grayish. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS adnexed to slightly decurrent, close to subdistant, whitish to pale gray; interveined. STEM 7-9 x 0.6-0.8 cm, white, sometimes small scales upper part. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-7(8) x 4-5.5 microns, PL.
Pseudoomphalina angelesiana
(Hygrophorus angelesianus, Neohygrophorus angelesianus, and Camarophyllus angelesianus are synonyms.)
| CAP 2-5 cm, viscid (Hesler & Sm.), moist but not viscid (Bessette), convex, disc becoming slightly depressed; brownish gray to dark gray brown, margin scalloped-pleated; flesh thin, firm, dark gray. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, distant, violaceous when young to violaceous-brown or vinaceous-brown in age. STEM 4-5 x 0.3-0.45 cm, narrowing slightly downwards, inside stuffed, colored as cap, may have tint of violet at base with white or pale lilac-tinted mycelium, top fibrillose-furfuraceous, base whitish with appressed fibrils and scant white rhizomorphs, the rest bald. HABITAT on soil and needles, in or near melting snowbanks at high elevations in spring, but also in other situations. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4-5.5 microns, smooth, amyloid; IW. REMARKS red reaction in 3% KOH of gill and stem tissue. Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group is similar but fades differently and spores inamyloid. For other snowbank species see Hygrophorus goetzii. | Pseudoomphalina angelesiana Steve Trudell |
CAP 3-5 cm, viscid, convex to obtuse becoming more or less flat; dark yellowish brown, sometimes zoned in age; flesh brownish near cap skin, grayish toward stem. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS broadly adnate to decurrent, "avellaneous" or nearly so. STEM 4-6 x 0.9-1.8 cm, dry, grayish pallid, solid. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 3.5-4.5 microns; DV.
Hygrophorus 'discoideus' - see section III
| CAP 1-4 cm, convex, hygrophanous, moist, cinnamon brown to brown on disc and paler between striations, fading to gray brown, may be slightly scaly in age, may appear granular; flesh brittle, firm, cinnamon brown to brown. ODOR unpleasant, of mothballs, naphthalene flakes or chloride of lime. TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, distant, light gray to darker gray brown. STEM 2-4 x 0.2-0.3 cm, narrowing downward, cinnamon brown to brown, may be darker lower stem, bald, dots or small scales at first, may appear hoary over base. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 4.5-6 x 4.5-5 microns; IW. REMARKS The mothball odor makes this easy to identify. | Hodophilus paupertinus Sharon Godkin |
| CAP 4-12 cm, glutinous, convex becoming obtuse or flat, at first blackish brown to dark olive brown, slightly paler toward the margin, somewhat radially streaked after the colorless gluten dries, cap cuticle (cap skin) separable, margin even; flesh thick, white. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate or subdecurrent, whitish to creamy white. STEM 4-10 x 1.0-2.5 cm, slimy, equal or narrowing downward, sometimes wider at base, solid, white, slightly silky or bald in upper part, but at times scabrous. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 4.5-5.5 microns; DV. REMARKS somewhat like Hygrophorus boyeri and Hygrophorus siccipes but does not develop yellow colors. | Hygrophorus fuligineus George Barron |
CAP 5-7 cm, viscid, conic becoming flat; gray; streaked; flesh medium thick on disc, thin on margin. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS subdecurrent, broad, white. STEM 3.5-5 x 0.8-1.0 cm dry, equal, or club-shaped widening downward to 2.0 cm; gray, white above, with a thin coating of gray fibrils below the line where the veil breaks. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 9-13 x 5.5-7 microns, DV. REMARKS See REMARKS under Hygrophorus 'olivaceoalbus' for two similar species. Also like Hygrophorus 'fuscoalbus' but has a dry stem.
| CAP 3-6 cm, dry, convex to broadly umbonate, dark grayish brown from dark grayish brown fibrils over pallid background, innately fibrillose to fibrillose-squamulose, fringed with marginal remnants of fibrillose veil.; flesh, soft, whitish. ODOR and TASTE mild. GILLS short-decurrent to adnate, broad, whitish tinted gray to grayish buff. STEM 3-6 x 0.5-1.2 cm, dry, solid, white and bald to appressed-silky near top, streaked with dark gray-brown fibrils below ring zone. MICRO-STRUCTURES spores 9-14 x (5)6-8 microns; DV. REMARKS like Inocybe or some Tricholoma species in general appearance; like Hygrophorus pustulatoides but has fibrillose veil and larger spores. | Hygrophorus inocybiformis Ben Woo |
| CAP 2-5 cm, viscid but soon dry, convex, may become slightly depressed; buff to brownish and flushed vinaceous, in age with salmon to wine-colored tones extending to margin; fibrillose-streaked in age; flesh thick, firm, white. ODOR of cherry pits or bitter almonds. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, whitish but in age becoming flushed with cap color but paler; interveined. STEM 3-6 x 0.3-2.5 cm, dry, equal or narrowing downward, white at first, may be flushed with color of cap in age, not darkening to more than pale salmon-buff around wormholes. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 10-14 x 5.5-7.5 microns; DV. REMARKS ITS-DNA of Hygrophorus pacificus is the same but the odor is described as “strong, penetrating and aromatic” by A.H. Smith and Hesler. Hygrophorus vinicolor has gills colored when young and powder on stem which becomes pink. | Hygrophorus monticola Andrew Parker |
CAP 1.5-4(5) cm, viscid to slimy, convex, obtusely conic, becoming flat with conic umbo; at first pallid or gray brown or dark brown, developing an obscure yellowish tone in places, skin separable; flesh whitish then gray at least under cap skin. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate then short-decurrent; white but may be grayish or yellowish near cap skin. STEM 3-9 x 0.3-0.9 cm, equal or narrowing downward, solid, white, pallid or brownish, in age with dingy-yellow stains; furfuraceous-flocculent. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-11 x 5-7 microns; DV. REMARKS similar to Hygrophorus pustulatoides but evenly colored cap with no pustules, and stem that may be scurfy but is not rough and scabrous with black points.
| CAP about 2 cm, viscid, convex expanding, "benzo brown" (violaceous brown), bald, with striate margin; flesh medium thin. ODOR of green corn. GILLS decurrent, distant, pale drab, becoming dingy buff with age. STEM about 2 cm long, dry, pallid. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-11 x 4.5-5.5 microns; IW. REMARKS Spores of Cuphophyllus ranierensis (which also has green corn odor) and Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group are shorter. | Hygrophorus nordmanensis Michael Beug |
CAP 2-8 cm, glutinous, convex becoming uplifted; disc gray, margin whitish to pale gray; somewhat streaked-fibrillose; flesh thin, white. ODOR not distinctive to somewhat sweet to slightly almondlike. TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnate to decurrent, white to cream. STEM 2-7 x 0.3-1.0 cm, slimy in lower part, equal but narrowing at base, solid, pallid or colored as cap, or whitish apart from pale gray top and pale yellow; with appressed white fibrils underneath slime, top white-dotted or pruinose. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-8 x 3.5-5 microns; DV. REMARKS can be described when mature as a gray Hygrophorus 'eburneus', scarcely distinguishable when young before colors develop; somewhat like Hygrophorus agathosmoides which has stronger almond odor, lighter gray cap, and white dry stem; somewhat like Hygrophorus 'fuscoalbus' which has larger spores (9-13 x 5.5-7 microns).
CAP 2-4 cm, viscid, obtuse to broadly convex, becoming flat or disc slightly depressed and margin arched; dark ashy gray over disc, paler gray to pallid along margin, when old with faint ochraceous tinge throughout; fibrillose-streaked to matted-fibrillose under viscidity; flesh soft, pallid. ODOR strongly aromatic, of bitter almonds. TASTE mild. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, whitish becoming creamy. STEM 4-8 x 0.3-0.6 cm, dry, equal or narrowing downward, pallid at first, unchanging with bruising but yellows on handling and dries with faint ochraceous tinge, faintly silky at top. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 11-14 x 6.5-8 microns; DV. REMARKS Hygrophorus agathosmoides somewhat similar but H. odoratus has yellowish tinged cap, more slender stem that yellows on handling, and larger spores.
| CAP 1-2.5 cm, lubricous to subviscid when wet, obtuse to convex at first, in age flat, sometimes with a recurved margin, sometimes with a depressed disc, with or without a papilla; dark or pale olive brown, margin paler in age; surface may crack circumferentially, disc make be finely wrinkled, at times margin faintly striate or wavy or pleated; flesh thin, dark olive-brown. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, distant to subdistant, broad, grayish white. STEM 2-4 x 0.3-0.6 cm, moist, whitish to cap colored, occasionally longitudinally striate; flesh of stem grayish. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-12 x 4-6 microns; IW. REMARKS Hygrocybe americana is acutely conical; Hygrocybe atro-olivaceus has a finely scaly cap which is dark at least at center. Gliophorus 'irrigatus' has similar colors. | Cuphophyllus recurvatus Buck McAdoo |
CAP 2-3 cm, slimy, convex, pale tan to dingy yellowish brown with buff margin ("Isabella color" with a "warm buff" margin, disc becoming cinnamon-tinged and then more or less "sayal brown"), appearing fibrillose-streaked under slime. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS decurrent, distant, narrow, whitish becoming buff ("ivory yellow" becoming "warm buff"). STEM 4-6 x 0.3-0.6 cm, dry, whitish becoming buff ("ivory yellow" becoming "warm buff"), partial veil leaves a median fibrillose zone. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 8-10 x 4-5 microns; DV. REMARKS according to Hesler & Smith like H. hypothejus in all other characters but without gelatinous veil on stem.
Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group
| CAP 2-6 cm, slightly viscid when moist, broadly convex to flat or uplifted; hygrophanous, violet-gray to violet-brown at least at margin when moist, center often paler, fading as it dries to gray or pallid; margin striate when fresh and moist, cap skin separable; flesh colored like cap or paler. ODOR mild or earthy. TASTE mild to bitter or subnauseous or slightly peppery. GILLS decurrent, subdistant to distant, whitish soon becoming smoky violet or gray with a violet tinge, interveined. STEM 3-7 x 0.4-1.1(1.7) cm, dry, equal or narrowing downward, often curved at base; white or tinged cap color, solid becoming hollow, appressed-fibrillose. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 6-9 x 4-7 microns: IW. REMARKS Violet-tinged gills are unusual in Hygrophorus. ITS-DNA in the Pacific Northwest is closer to Cuphophyllus lacmus, first described from Europe, than it is to Cuphophyllus subviolaceus, first described from NY, and we are naming a group that contains those two. But there are several other species with similarities in appearance or DNA and it is not yet known how many are independent species in the Pacific Northwest. Here are some of the more distinctive: Cuphophyllus cinerellus has a hygrophanous, dry, gray-brown cap that may have a lilac tint when dry, pale gray to grayish brown gills, sometimes with a slight lilac tint, pale gray to grayish buff stem, often with a yellow tone on lower stem, indistinct odor taste, and preference for arctic-alpine zones and bogs). Hygrocybe cinerea has a dry grayish to lilac gray cap and gills and a mild taste. Cuphophyllus rainierensis has a strong green corn odor, and this odor is also mentioned for Hygrophorus nordmanensis as well. Pseudoomphalina angelesiana has amyloid spores, a non-fading gray-brown cap, and habitat most often high elevations in spring and summer. Cuphophyllus 'colemannianus' has a viscid, brown to pinkish-gray to buff cap, and a gill color that Hesler & Smith say distinguishes it easily from Cuphophyllus subviolaceus. | Cuphophyllus subviolaceus group Kit Scates Barnhart |
CAP 2.5-5 cm, slightly viscid soon dry, obtuse with inrolled margin, "wood brown" on disc and "vinaceous-buff" toward margin, margin may be pink in age; flesh white, or wine-colored near cuticle (cap skin), unchanging. ODOR aromatic, almond, like Hygrophorus agathosmoides. TASTE disagreeable. GILLS decurrent, distant, broad, near "pale pinkish cinnamon" (almost the color of Hygrophorus saxatilis). STEM 3-5 x 1-2 cm, dry, solid, white, minutely pruinose at first with powder developing a pinkish tone. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 10-14 x 6-8 microns; DV. REMARKS like Hygrophorus monticola (and could possibly be a variant according to Hesler and Smith who described both species) but H. vinicolor has pale pinkish-cinnamon gills, disagreeable taste and pink powder on stem.
IX. Cap grass-green or olive-green.
Hygrophorus caeruleus - see section II: unusual greenish blue color might cause it to key out here, especially as it does not fit earlier sections well.
| CAP 2-4.5cm, moist but not viscid or glutinous, obtuse becoming flat or nearly so, near honey yellow sometimes with dull orange, soon becoming green to greenish yellow; flesh greenish. ODOR and TASTE not distinctive. GILLS adnexed or with decurrent tooth, whitish or tinged green. STEM 3-6 x 0.3-0.8 cm, moist or dry, green or greenish yellow, somewhat striate when old, base whitish. HABITAT first described under redwood, but occurring with other trees. MICROSTRUCTURES spores 7-9 x 5-6.5 microns; DV. REMARKS Gliophorus psittacinus group has a cap and stem that are slimy-viscid. | Hygrocybe virescens Steve Trudell |
areolate - surface cracked into plaques or blocks, like the cracking that occurs when mud dries in the sun
divergent - of gill hyphae, projecting outward and downward away from cap as seen in cross-section
drab - a dull medium or brownish gray, dark gray with shades of yellow; gray with violet overtones; in Ridgway 1912, a gray-brown
dry - surface not sticky or slimy or hygrophanous, feeling as if there is no moisture on surface
emarginate - of gills, with a notch near stem, may be equated with abruptly adnexed, or sinuate, or a deeper notch of the sinuate type
equal - of a stem, the same diameter throughout its length
farinaceous - of odor, with the smell of fresh ground meal from whole grain, especially wheat
flocculent - with fine, easily removed cottony or woolly tufts; finely woolly or cottony
furfuraceous - scurfy, surface covered with branlike particles resembling scales, coarser than granular
gelatinous - jelly-like in consistency or appearance
gluten - the dissolved gelatinous hyphae of certain tissues
glutinous - slimy, having a highly viscid gelatinous layer, more than viscid
hazel - light to moderate yellowish brown; the color of the shell of the ripe hazelnut
hygrophanous - cap surface changing color markedly as it dries, usually having a water-soaked appearance when wet and turning a lighter opaque color on drying
interveined - of gills, connected by "veins" (ridges) that run between gills
interwoven - hyphae entwined or tangled, not forming a regular pattern
Isabella color - color of unbleached linen, dingy yellowish brown to pale tan
lubricous - greasy or slippery or oily but not viscid (sticky) or slimy
moist - having a slightly wet appearance or feel, not dry, lubricous, or viscid
neotype - specimen or other material designated as nomenclatural type when all the original material is missing
obtuse - blunt, not pointed; greater than a right angle
omphalinoid - of general form of the genus Omphalina, with broadly convex to depressed cap, decurrent or subdecurrent gills, cartilaginous stem, and no ring or volva; or loosely applied to indicate agarics with decurrent gills and small fruitbodies
parallel - of hyphae, arranged more or less parallel to each other
pliant - being pliable without breaking, flexible, not rigid or firm
pruinose - looking finely powdered or finely granular
recurved - curved back: when used of cap margin or scales means curved back
reticulations - markings that form a network
rhizomorph - cordlike strand of twisted hyphae present around base of stem
sayal - close to cinnamon in color, dark to dull cinnamon; between a moderate orange and a moderate yellowish-brown
scabrous - roughened by short projecting rigid scales
scurfy - surface covered with branlike particles resembling scales, same as furfuraceous
sensu - in the sense of
slimy - having a thick layer of slime, more than viscid or glutinous
sordid - dingy-looking
squamule - fine scale
stature - characteristic shape
striate - marked with lines or fine grooves, generally longitudinal on stem and radiating on cap
subdecurrent - of gills, meaning short decurrent or nearly decurrent or somewhat decurrent (i.e. intermediate between adnate and decurrent, when attachment extends slightly further down stem than when adnate)
subviscid - slightly sticky, thinly viscid
trama - the tissue under the surface cell layers of cap, stem, or gills
umbo - a raised knob or mound at the center of the cap
umbonate - having a raised knob or mound at the center of the cap
viscid - sticky but not slimy or lubricous: the mushroom usually feels somewhat slimy or slippery when wet but when dry may need to be wetted slightly to feel sticky; sometimes used to include slimy
| GENUS SPECIES | DESCRIPTION |
| CHROMOSERA Redhead, Ammirati & Norvell | |
| C. citrinopallida (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Vizzine & Ercole | IV A 2a |
| CUPHOPHYLLUS (Donk) Bon emended Lodge | |
| C. borealis (Peck) Bon ex Courtec. | I C 1b |
| C. cinerellus (Kühner) Bon | Appendix |
| C. colemannianus (A. Bloxam) Bon | VIII B 5a |
| C. graveolens (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) N. Siegel & C.F. Schwarz | Appendix |
| C. hygrocyboides (Kühner) Bon | V C 5b |
| C. niveus (Scop.) Bon | I B 2a |
| C. pratensis (Pers.) Bon | V C 5b |
| C. rainierensis (Hesler & A.H. Sm.) Lebeuf | VII B 1a |
| C. recurvatus (Peck) Lebeuf | Appendix |
| C. russocoriaceus (Berk. & Miller) Bon | Appendix |
| C. subviolaceus (Peck) Bon | Appendix |
| C. virgineus (Wulfen) Kovalenko | I C 1a |
| GLIOPHORUS Herink | |
| G. irrigatus (Pers.) A.M. Ainsw. & P.M. Kirk | VIII A 2a |
| G. laetus (Pers.) Herink | II A 3a |
| G. psittacinus (Schaeff.) Herink | IX 1a |
| GLOIOXANTHOMYCES Lodge, Vizzini, Ercole & Boertm. | |
| G. nitidus (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Lodge | IV A 4a |
| HODOPHILUS R. Heim | |
| H. paupertinus (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Adamčik, Birkebak & Looney | Appendix |
| HUMIDICUTIS (Singer) Singer emended Lodge | |
| H. marginata (Peck) Singer var. marginata | V C 5a |
| H. marginata (Peck) var. olivacea (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Singer | IX 1b |
| HYGROCYBE (Fr.) P. Kumm. | |
| H. acutoconica (Clem.) Singer. | Appendix |
| H. americana Bessette, A.R. Bessette, Roody & W.E. Sturgeon | Appendix |
| H. atro-olivacea (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Bessette, Bessette, Roody & Sturgeon | VIII C 3b |
| H. cantharellus (Schw.) Murrill | Appendix |
| H. ceracea (Sowerby) P. Kumm. | Appendix |
| H. chlorophana (Fr.) Wünsche | IV A 5b |
| H. cinerea (Pers.) P.D. Orton & Watling | VIII C 3a |
| H. coccinea (Fr.) P. Kumm. sensu Hesler & A.H. Sm. | VI B 4b |
| H. coccineocrenata (P.D. Orton) M.M. Moser | VI C 3a |
| H. conica (Scop.) P. Kumm. | VI B 1a |
| H. constans Murrill | VI C 4b |
| H. cremicolor Murrill | II C 3a |
| H. cuspidata (Peck) Murrill | VI B 3b |
| H. flavescens (Kauffman) Singer | IV B 2b |
| H. hondurensis (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Singer | Appendix |
| H. luteo-omphaloides Norvell, Redhead & Ammirati. | Appendix |
| H. miniata (Fr.) P. Kumm. | VI C 4b |
| H. minutula (Peck) Murrill | Appendix |
| H. parvula (Peck) Pegler | Appendix |
| H. punicea (Fr.) P. Kumm. | VI B 4a |
| H. reae Maire (J.E. Lange) | VI A 2a |
| H. singeri (A.H. Sm. & Hesler) Singer | VI A 1a |
| H. squamulosa (Ellis & Ev.) Arnolds | VI C 4a |
| H. subceracea Murrill | Appendix |
| H. subminiata Murrill | VI B 2a |
| H. substrangulata (P.D. Orton) P.D. Orton & Watling | VI C 4b |
| H. turunda (Fr.) P. Karst. | VI C 3a |
| HYGROPHORUS Fr. | |
| H. agathosmoides Lebeuf, E. Larss. & Bellanger | VIII B 4a |
| H. albicarneus Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. albiflavus Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. albofloccosus Lebeuf, E. Larss. & Bellanger | VIII B 4a |
| H. amarus A.H. Sm. & Hesler | II B 1a |
| H. avellaneifolius Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. bakerensis A.H. Sm. & Hesler | III B 2b |
| H. burgdorfensis Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. caeruleus O.K.Mill. | Appendix |
| H. calophyllus Karsten | VIII B 1a |
| H. camarophyllus (Fr.) Dumée et al. | VIII B 6b |
| H. capreolarius (Kalchbr.) Sacc. | VII B 4a |
| H. chrysaspis Metrod | I A 4a |
| H. chrysodon (Fr.) Fr. | I A 1a |
| H. cossus Fr. | Appendix |
| H. discoideus (Fr.) Fr. | Appendix |
| H. eburneus (Fr.) Fr. | I A 4b |
| H. ellenae Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. erubescens (Fr.) Fr. | VII B 4b |
| H. flavodiscus Frost apud Peck | Appendix |
| H. fragrans Murrill | II B 5a |
| H. fuligineus Frost apud Peck | Appendix |
| H. fuscoalboides Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. fuscoalbus (Lasch) Fr. | VIII A 6a |
| H. gliocyclus Fr. | II A 4b |
| H. glutinosus Peck | Appendix |
| H. goetzii Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. hypothejus (Fr.) Fr. | VIII A 3a |
| H. inocybiformis A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. karstenii Sacc. & Cub. forma minor Bres. | Appendix |
| H. lawrencei Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. lucorum Kalchbr. | IV B 2b |
| H. marzuolus (Fr.) Bres. | VIII B 6a |
| H. megasporus A.H. Sm. & Hesler | VIII A 6b |
| H. monticola Hesler and A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. morrisii Peck | Appendix |
| H. nordmanensis Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. occidentalis A.H. Sm. & Hesler | Appendix |
| H. odoratus A.H. Sm. & Hesler | Appendix |
| H. olivaceoalbus (Fr.) Fr. sensu Hesler & A.H. Sm. | VIII A 5a |
| H. pacificus A.H. Sm. & Hesler | III B 2a |
| H. penarius Fr. | II B 3a |
| H. piceae Kühner & Romagn. | I B 2b |
| H. pudorinus (Fr.) Fr. | II B 5a |
| H. purpurascens (Fr.) Fr. | VII B 2a |
| H. pusillus Peck | II B 2a |
| H. pustulatoides Lebeuf, E. Larss. & Bellanger | VIII A 4a |
| H. russula (Fr.) Quél | VII B 3a |
| H. saxatilis A.H. Sm. & Hesler | II B 5b |
| H. siccipes A.H. Sm. & Hesler | Appendix |
| H. sordidus Peck | I B 3b |
| H. speciosus Peck | V A 2a |
| H. subalpinus A.H. Sm. | I B 3a |
| H. subpungens A.H. Sm. & Hesler | Appendix |
| H. tennesseensis A.H. Sm. & Hesler | Appendix |
| H. variicolor Murrill | III A |
| H. velatus Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. vernalis A.H. Sm. | II A 4a |
| H. vinicolor Hesler & A.H. Sm. | Appendix |
| H. whitei Hesler & A.H. Sm. emended J.M. Bellanger et al. | VIII A 5a |
| PSEUDOOMPHALINA (Singer) Singer | |
| P. angelesiana (A. H. Sm. & Hesler) Vizzini, Contu & Z.W. Ge | Appendix |
- END -