vs Shadowed Waxcap

Hygrocybe turunda compared with Hygrocybe phaeococcinea

Key Differences

• is Vulnerable while Shadowed Waxcap is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Shadowed 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 turunda	Hygrocybe phaeococcinea

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

VU — Vulnerable

Shadowed Waxcap

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Shadowed Waxcap

Habitat

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

Range

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

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