Gliophorus psittacinus
Fast facts
- Common names
- Parrot Waxcap
- Scientific name
- Gliophorus psittacinus
- When to See It
- September to November
Description
A small to medium waxcap with a very slimy cap and stem, sometimes so slippery it can be difficult to pick up. It is highly variable in colour, ranging from bright green to yellow, pink or purple. Despite this variation, there is usually at least a hint of green near the top of the stem, a useful feature for identifying this species.
Identifying Parrot Waxcap
A small but distinctive waxcap, typically 1–6 cm across, this waxcap starts a rich bottle green before fading through yellow, blue, grey or brown. The cap is very slimy, initially domed but flattening with age, while usually keeping a small central bump. Beneath, the gills are thick, widely spaced and pale, often with greenish tones, and may show faint cross-veins between them. The slender stem, 2–6 cm long, is equally slippery, coloured yellow to green and often darker or bluish towards the top.
When to Find Them
This is one of the more common waxcaps, found in a wide range of unimproved grasslands as well as scrub, fixed dunes and even road verges, typically appearing from September to November.
Interesting Fact
The colour green in this waxcap is unique among European waxcap species! The green colour can vary from olive to jade green, but never fails to be beautiful.
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.
