Waxcaps on the wane

We’re on a trip to north Devon, near Lynmouth, on an organised fungus foray. I’m particularly excited about the grassland here as there are reports of the Date Waxcap, Hygrocybe spadicea, a nationally rare species. I’ve not seen it before. There are only 100 recorded sites for it, and most of those are in Wales, South West England and the Pennines.

There are plenty of Meadow Waxcaps, Cuphophyllus (Hygrocybe) pratensis here.

Their apricot caps litter the grass.

They’re fascinating to peer underneath. A little harmless mushroom up skirting never hurt anyone.

Here are some of the Waxcap species we found – and a stray Entoloma or two:

The real jewels are the red-coloured wax caps

Particularly when the cap fades to yellow at the edges.

And they grow in cute clumps.

It’s a thrill to share the Earth with them; all 112 species of them.