Bog Waxcap
Hygrocybe coccineocrenata
The Bog Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccineocrenata) is a striking fungus characterized by its bright red to scarlet cap with distinctive crenulated (scalloped) margins and waxy texture. This small to medium-sized mushroom plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling within specialized wetland ecosystems, forming complex relationships with moss communities and contributing to the decomposition of organic matter in acidic, waterlogged environments.
32
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Drew Parker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Drew Parker
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Hygrophoraceae
Genus
Hygrocybe
Bog Waxcap belongs to the family Hygrophoraceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
The Bog Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccineocrenata) is a striking fungus characterized by its bright red to scarlet cap with distinctive crenulated (scalloped) margins and waxy texture. This small to medium-sized mushroom plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling within specialized wetland ecosystems, forming complex relationships with moss communities and contributing to the decomposition of organic matter in acidic, waterlogged environments.
The Bog Waxcap is primarily threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and changes in traditional land management practices. The species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and pollution from agricultural runoff.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Bog Waxcaps are found exclusively in acidic sphagnum bogs and wet heathlands, typically growing among moss carpets in areas with consistently high moisture levels and low nutrient availability. They favor undisturbed peat bog margins and seepage areas where the water table remains close to the surface year-round.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Bog Waxcap is primarily threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and changes in traditional land management practices. The species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and pollution from agricultural runoff.
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Wetland drainage and bog destruction
Changes in traditional grazing and mowing regimes
Climate change affecting bog hydrology
Pollution from agricultural chemicals and fertilizers
Found in 32 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). Bog Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccineocrenata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/bog-waxcap