Veiled Purple Waxcap
VU

Veiled Purple Waxcap

Hygrophorus purpurascens

Unknown

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

Overview

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

The Veiled Purple Waxcap faces severe decline due to widespread loss of nutrient-poor grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have been converted to intensive agriculture or abandoned. Nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and atmospheric pollution fundamentally alters soil chemistry, making habitats unsuitable for this species which requires oligotrophic conditions. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and soil moisture regimes essential for fruiting body development.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species occurs exclusively in nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands including ancient pastures, chalk downs, and traditional hay meadows across temperate Europe. It forms mycorrhizal associations with grasses in oligotrophic soils that have been maintained by centuries of low-intensity grazing or mowing.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Veiled Purple Waxcap classified as Vulnerable?
Veiled Purple 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 Veiled Purple Waxcap faces severe decline due to widespread loss of nutrient-poor grasslands across Europe, particularly ancient pastures and meadows that have been converted to intensive agriculture or abandoned. Nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and atmospheric pollution fundamentally alters soil chemistry, making habitats unsuitable for this species which requires oligotrophic conditions. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and soil moisture regimes essential for fruiting body development.
Where does Veiled Purple Waxcap live?
Veiled Purple 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 Veiled Purple Waxcap?
The main threats to Veiled Purple 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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