Bitterer Saftling vs Ringflockiger Saftling

Hygrocybe mucronella compared with Hygrocybe turunda

Key Differences

• Bitterer Saftling is Near Threatened while Ringflockiger Saftling is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bitterer Saftling	Ringflockiger Saftling
Kingdom same	Fungi (Pilze)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Champignonartige)	Agaricales (Champignonartige)
Family same	Hygrophoraceae	Hygrophoraceae
Genus same	Hygrocybe	Hygrocybe
Species	Hygrocybe mucronella	Hygrocybe turunda

Evolutionary Relationship

Bitterer Saftling and Ringflockiger Saftling share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Hygrocybe.

Conservation Status

Bitterer Saftling

NT — Near Threatened

Ringflockiger Saftling

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bitterer Saftling	Ringflockiger Saftling
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bitterer Saftling

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.

Ringflockiger Saftling

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.

Bitterer Saftling

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.

Ringflockiger Saftling

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