Bitter Waxcap vs California alder

Hygrocybe mucronella compared with Alnus rhombifolia

Key Differences

• Bitter Waxcap is Near Threatened while California alder is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bitter Waxcap	California alder
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Fagales (Beeches & Oaks)
Family	Hygrophoraceae	Betulaceae
Genus	Hygrocybe	Alnus
Species	Hygrocybe mucronella	Alnus rhombifolia

Conservation Status

Bitter Waxcap

NT — Near Threatened

California alder

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bitter Waxcap	California alder
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bitter Waxcap

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

California alder

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Canada.

Bitter Waxcap

The Bitter Waxcap (Hygrocybe mucronella) is a species in the genus Hygrocybe. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

California alder

The California alder (Alnus rhombifolia) is a species in the genus Alnus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.