Hygrocybe conica

Taxobox
name = "Hygrocybe conica"


image_width = 220px
image_caption = "Hygrocybe conica",
the witch's hat - Netherlands
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Hygrophoraceae
genus = "Hygrocybe"
species = "H. conica"
binomial = "Hygrocybe conica"
binomial_authority = (Schaeff.: Fries) Kumm.mycomorphbox
name = Hygrocybe conica
whichGills = adnexed
capShape = conical
hymeniumType= gills
stipeCharacter= bare
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=inedible

"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.

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. if you touch this Mushroom it turns from Red to Black

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. [cite book | author = Nilsson, Sven & Persson, Olle | year = 1977 | title = Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi | publisher = Penguin, New York | id = ISBN 0140630066 ] Though "Hygrocybe conica" does occur in Australia, principally near urban areas, many collections originally assigned to this species are actually the similar "Hygrocybe astatogala". [cite book | author= Young, A.M. | year =2005 | title = Fungi of Australia: Hygrophoraceae | publisher = (Australian Biological Resources Study) CSIRO, Canberra, ACT | id = ISBN 0-643-09195-5]

Edibility

The edibility or otherwise of "Hygrocybe conica" is unclear. Its small size and being coated in a sticky substance render it of limited palatability anyway, however there is a report of poisoning from China in the early part of the 20th century which was allegedly from this species. [ [http://mushroomexpert.com/hygrocybe_conica.html Mushroomexpert page on "Hygrocybe conica"] ]

References

*
* Fuhrer, Bruce Alexander (2005) "A Field Guide to Australian Fungi" Bloomings Books, Melbourne, Australia, ISBN 1876473517 ;

External links

* [http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2001.html "Fungus of the Month for October 2001: "Hygrocybe conica", the witch's hat mushroom"] by Tom Volk, "TomVolkFungi.net".
* [http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/hygrocybe-conica.html “"Hygrocybe conica"”] by Robert Sasata, "Healing-Mushrooms.net", September, 2007.