Golden Waxcap
Hygrocybe chlorophana
Hygrocybe chlorophana is a species of agaric in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of golden waxcap in the UK.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrocybe_chlorophana
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Hygrophoraceae
Genus
Hygrocybe
Golden Waxcap belongs to the family Hygrophoraceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Hygrocybe chlorophana is a species of agaric in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of golden waxcap in the UK. The species has a largely north temperate distribution, occurring in grassland in Europe and in woodland in North America and northern Asia; it has also been reported from mountainous areas of southern Australia. It typically produces basidiocarps in the autumn. In a few European countries, H. chlorophana is of conservation concern, appearing on national red lists of threatened fungi.
The Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased fertilizer use and conversion of traditional pastures to intensive farming, has severely reduced the nutrient-poor grasslands this species requires. Climate change and pollution further threaten the delicate soil chemistry and fungal networks essential for this species' survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
The golden waxcap is widespread throughout the north temperate zone, occurring in Europe, North America, and northern Asia; it has also been collected from the alpine areas of Mount Wellington in Tasmania, Australia. Like other waxcaps, it grows in old, unimproved, short-sward grassland (pastures and lawns) in Europe, but in woodland in North America and Asia. Recent research suggests waxcaps are...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased fertilizer use and conversion of traditional pastures to intensive farming, has severely reduced the nutrient-poor grasslands this species requires. Climate change and pollution further threaten the delicate soil chemistry and fungal networks essential for this species' survival.
Agricultural intensification and fertilizer use
Habitat loss and grassland conversion
Soil nutrient enrichment
Climate change impacts on grassland ecosystems
Pollution and chemical contamination
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). Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/golden-waxcap