Hygrocybe conica

Hygrocybe conica, commonly known as the witch's hat, conical wax cap or conical slimy cap, is a colourful member of the genus Hygrocybe (the waxcaps), found across northern Europe and North America. Originally described as Hygrophorus conicus, it may actually be a complex of closely related and similar species.

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Description

  The witch's hat is a small mushroom, with a convex to conical yellow-orange to red cap 2 to 5 cm (¾-2 inches) in diameter, though very occasionally larger specimens up to 8 or 9 cm (3½ in) diameter are found. All parts of the fungus blacken with age or when touched. The thin yellowish stem, whitish at the base, can be up to 10 cm tall. It has a striated pattern and can be twisted in texture. The gills and spores are whitish.

Distribution and habitat

The witch's hat is widely distributed in grasslands and conifer woodlands across North America, Europe and Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, being found in summer and autumn. It is likely that what is currently termed Hygrocybe conica is actually a complex of closely related species, some of which are suspected of being poisonous.^[1] Though Hygrocybe conica does occur in Australia, principally near urban areas, many collections originally assigned to this species are actually the similar Hygrocybe astatogala.^[2]

Is It Edible?

Despite its small size and being coated in a sticky substance, Hygrocybe conica is edible. However, there is a report of poisoning from China in the early part of the 20th century which was allegedly from this species.^[3]

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