Blushing Waxcap
Neohygrocybe ovina
Neohygrocybe ovina is a species of agaric in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of blushing waxcap, since the lamellae (gills) and flesh turn pinkish red when bruised.
29
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neohygrocybe_ovina
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Hygrophoraceae
Genus
Neohygrocybe
Blushing Waxcap belongs to the family Hygrophoraceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Neohygrocybe ovina is a species of agaric in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of blushing waxcap, since the lamellae (gills) and flesh turn pinkish red when bruised. The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agriculturally unimproved grassland. Threats to its habitat have resulted in the species being assessed as globally "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Blushing Waxcap faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss of traditional grassland management practices that maintain the nutrient-poor conditions essential for its survival. Agricultural intensification, including fertilizer application and conversion of old grasslands to intensive farming, has severely reduced suitable habitat across its range. Climate change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition further threaten the specialized grassland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands including chalk downs, old pastures, and traditionally managed meadows with short turf. Typically found in calcareous or neutral soils that have not been treated with artificial fertilizers, often in areas with centuries of continuous grassland management.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and fertilizer use
Habitat fragmentation and conversion
Loss of traditional grassland management
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition
Climate change impacts on grassland ecosystems
Found in 29 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Blushing Waxcap (Neohygrocybe ovina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blushing-waxcap