Hygrophorus chrysodon

Hygrophorus chrysodon
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Hygrophoraceae
Genus: Hygrophorus
Species:
H. chrysodon
Binomial name
Hygrophorus chrysodon
(Batsch) Fr., 1838

Hygrophorus chrysodon, commonly known as the flaky waxy cap,[1] or gold flecked woodwax [2] is a species of fungus in the genus Hygrophorus.[3] The species is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is edible but bland in taste.

Etymology

The specific epithet chrysodon is Greek for 'golden tooth', a reference to the species' gold-hued granules or hairs, which are found on the cap (especially near the edge), stipe, and gills.[4]

Description

The fruit bodies are white, sometimes with a tinge of yellow.[4] The caps reach 4–14 centimetres (1+125+12 inches), with gills subdecurrent to decurrent.[5] The stalk is 3–10 cm long.[1]

The flesh is soft and white, with a mild to bitter taste. The spore print is white.[6]

Similar species

Lookalikes in the genus include the uncommon H. discoxanthus.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere[4] on the ground, with moss, and under conifers or other hardwood trees.[6]

Uses

It is edible but bland in taste.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-89815-170-1.
  2. ^ https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/field_mycology/english-names
  3. ^ "Hygrophorus chrysodon (Batsch) Fr". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
  5. ^ Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. p. 272. ISBN 9781607748175.
  6. ^ a b c Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 402. ISBN 978-0-593-31998-7.
  7. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010) [2005]. Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  8. ^ Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7627-3109-1.