Hygrocybe reidii
Fast facts
- Common names
- Honey Waxcap
- Scientific name
- Hygrocybe reidii
- When to See It
- September-November
Description
A small to medium waxcap with a dry cap and stem, though the cap can be slightly greasy when young.
Identifying Honey Waxcap
The cap is often dry, sometimes with a slightly felty centre and a finely scaly appearance, and may show a gently scalloped margin. Gills are a little paler than the cap and are broadly attached to the stem, occasionally running slightly down it. Colour is typically a rich orange, though it can range to red-orange. The key feature is its distinct smell of honey, which helps separate it from similar species such as Hygrocybe quieta, which has a characteristic oily or bedbug-like odour.
Identification Tip
The honey scent can be subtle at first but is often stronger if the base of the stem is gently scratched or rubbed. Placing the fungus in a container for a short time and then smelling it as you open the lid can help bring out the aroma. Warming it slightly in your hands or rubbing it and holding it close to your nose can also make the scent more noticeable.
When to Find Them
This is a relatively common species, found in unimproved grassland, dunes and lawns, often favouring slightly acidic habitats, and typically fruiting from September to November.
Join the hunt for North East Waxcaps
Urban or rural, beginner or expert, we need your help to record twelve distinctive waxcaps across the North East this autumn.
Your records can add to our understanding of these colourful fungi in the region and inform conservation and monitoring efforts.
Taking part is easy and every record counts, wherever you live in the region. Records of all waxcap species are encouraged.
