Bitter Waxcap vs

Hygrocybe mucronella compared with Hygrocybe turunda

Key Differences

• Bitter Waxcap is Near Threatened while is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bitter Waxcap
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
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 mucronella	Hygrocybe turunda

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Bitter Waxcap

NT — Near Threatened

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bitter Waxcap
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.

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.

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.

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