Garlic Waxcap
VU

Garlic Waxcap

Hygrocybe helobia

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrocybe_helobia

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Garlic Waxcap faces severe decline due to the widespread loss of unimproved grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have never been treated with artificial fertilizers. Agricultural intensification, including nitrogen enrichment and conversion to improved grassland, has eliminated much of its specialized habitat. The species' dependence on nutrient-poor soils with specific mycorrhizal networks makes it extremely vulnerable to even minor changes in land management practices.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Garlic Waxcap occurs exclusively in nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands including ancient pastures, chalk downs, and traditional hay meadows that have never received artificial fertilizers. These specialized fungal communities require soils with low nitrogen levels and depend on centuries-old grazing regimes that maintain the delicate balance of plant and fungal diversity.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Hygrophoraceae

Viol-vokshatCR

Viol-vokshat

Chromosera viola

Unknown
Arctic Mushroom Scales LichenCR

Arctic Mushroom Scales Lichen

Lichenomphalia hudsoniana

Unknown
Dune WaxcapEN

Dune Waxcap

Hygrocybe conicoides

Unknown
Stielloser AdermooslingVU

Stielloser Adermoosling

Arrhenia lobata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Garlic Waxcap classified as Vulnerable?
Garlic Waxcap is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Garlic Waxcap faces severe decline due to the widespread loss of unimproved grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have never been treated with artificial fertilizers. Agricultural intensification, including nitrogen enrichment and conversion to improved grassland, has eliminated much of its specialized habitat. The species' dependence on nutrient-poor soils with specific mycorrhizal networks makes it extremely vulnerable to even minor changes in land management practices.
Where does Garlic Waxcap live?
Garlic Waxcap occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Garlic Waxcap?
The main threats to Garlic Waxcap are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.