Golden Waxcap vs

Hygrocybe chlorophana compared with Hygrocybe turunda

Key Differences

• Golden Waxcap is Least Concern while is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Golden Waxcap
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family same	Hygrophoraceae	Hygrophoraceae
Genus same	Hygrocybe	Hygrocybe
Species	Hygrocybe chlorophana	Hygrocybe turunda

Evolutionary Relationship

Golden Waxcap and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Hygrocybe.

Conservation Status

Golden Waxcap

LC — Least Concern

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Golden Waxcap
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Golden Waxcap

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil).

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Hygrocybe turunda is a small, scarlet to orange-red waxcap mushroom with a dry, scaly cap surface distinguishing it from related smooth-capped species. It grows in unimproved, nutrient-poor grasslands and mossy lawns in temperate Europe, particularly in ancient meadows. This grassland waxcap indicates long-undisturbed, unfertilized grassland habitats of ecological value.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden