Cranberry Waxy Cap
Hygrocybe turunda
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) corndog, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by corndog
Overview
The Cranberry Waxy Cap is a small, distinctive mushroom characterized by its waxy, translucent cap that ranges from deep cranberry red to pinkish-red coloration. This grassland fungus forms part of complex soil ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and potentially forming mycorrhizal associations with grasses and other plants in nutrient-poor environments.
The Cranberry Waxy Cap faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Climate change and agricultural intensification are reducing the availability of suitable unimproved grasslands where this species can establish the complex mycorrhizal relationships necessary for survival.
Habitat
Unimproved grasslands, old pastures, and traditional hay meadows with low nutrient levels, typically in temperate regions. The species requires specific soil chemistry and moisture conditions found in ancient grassland systems that have not been subjected to modern agricultural practices.
Other threatened species in Hygrophoraceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cranberry Waxy Cap classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Cranberry Waxy Cap live?
What are the main threats to Cranberry Waxy Cap?
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