Scarlet Waxcap

Description:

Similar in appearance to Hygrocybe punicea, H. coccinea has a less fibrous stem and is usually a brighter blood red when in it's prime whilst H. punicea is described as having a dark blood red colour and more distant gills. H. splendidissima is very similar but also has a more fibrous stem, H. spledidissima has a brighter red cap than H. coccinea. The differences and descriptions can be found here: http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/hygroc... The cap of my spotting was about 3cm across. about 3cm tall Due to small size and lack of fibrous stem I tentatively ID this one as H. coccinea. I've not taken into consideration other similar species (due to lack of time) such as Hygrocybe miniata, Hygrocybe reidii, Hygrocybe insipida

Notes:

av8 - somewhere along the footpath between here and the road