Blushing Waxcap
Neohygrocybe ovina
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neohygrocybe_ovina
Overview
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.
Habitat
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.
Other threatened species in Hygrophoraceae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is Blushing Waxcap classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Blushing Waxcap live?
What are the main threats to Blushing Waxcap?
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