EN

Slender Waxcap

Hygrocybe radiata

Unknown

Overview

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

The Slender Waxcap faces severe decline due to the widespread loss of nutrient-poor grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have never been fertilized. Agricultural intensification through nitrogen enrichment fundamentally alters soil chemistry, making habitats unsuitable for this species which requires oligotrophic conditions. The conversion of traditional grazing systems to intensive farming or abandonment leading to scrubland succession has eliminated many historical sites where this distinctive fungus once thrived.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Slender Waxcap occurs exclusively in nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands including ancient pastures, chalk downs, and traditional hay meadows that have never received artificial fertilizers. These oligotrophic grasslands maintain the specific soil chemistry and mycorrhizal networks essential for waxcap fungi communities.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Slender Waxcap classified as Endangered?
Slender Waxcap is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Slender Waxcap faces severe decline due to the widespread loss of nutrient-poor grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have never been fertilized. Agricultural intensification through nitrogen enrichment fundamentally alters soil chemistry, making habitats unsuitable for this species which requires oligotrophic conditions. The conversion of traditional grazing systems to intensive farming or abandonment leading to scrubland succession has eliminated many historical sites where this distinctive fungus once thrived.
Where does Slender Waxcap live?
Slender 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 Slender Waxcap?
The main threats to Slender 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.

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