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Witch's hat

Hygrocybe conica

Description:

Also known as conical wax cap or conical slimy cap. The witch's hat is a small mushroom, with a convex to conical yellow-orange to red cap 2 to 5 cm (0,75-1,95 inch) in diameter, though very occasionally larger specimens up to 8 or 9 cm (3,5 inch) in diameter are found. Bruises black [to see in the 2 picture, and how slimy is to see in picture 3].

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.Though Hygrocybe conica does occur in Australia, principally near urban areas, many collections originally assigned to this species are actually the similar Hygrocybe astatogala.

Notes:

One of the brightest fungi of our pine forest, quite rare, unfortunately, as it seems to prefer undisturbed, ecologically balanced areas. These specimens are exceptionally bright and rather blunt-capped for the species and resemble another red waxcap, Hygrocybe coccinea. The color changes into yellow-orange as the mushroom matures. Its waxy, watery flesh stains bluish-black readily, so dry specimens are almost completely black. ----- this exact same specimen 6 days later: ( http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/786... )

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27 Comments (1–25)

isabellaedoyle
isabellaedoyle 10 years ago

Nice find!

amelieprentice2003
amelieprentice2003 10 years ago

Strange colour but nice!

Braulio Rivas Tapia
Braulio Rivas Tapia 11 years ago

I love the shiny mushrooms!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

Yes CarolSnowMilne, sadly just hobby, but thanks for your motivating words
----BTW I have posted, this exact same specimen, 6 days later/more matured and blackend, as own spotting. The link to this matured specimen is added to this younger spotting.

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

"Just hobby!" My new hobby has become a new life for me. I never thought I would be interested in taking photos of insects, spiders, fungi? HA! I really like it. It keeps me sane. I hope! And congrats again and again! You never know what your "hobby" skills will hold for you in the future. :) I hope your fungi skills will lead to something great!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

ok, you're right, the reflection/silhouet isn't that clear. and thanks for the congratulations. yes it is sadly just a hobby, for which i also have not that much time. I began as "know-nothing" to search for some edible and magic mushrooms ( at that time, i never identified some then, now i suspect, i had already many in my hand, without realizing that). Now since 2-3 years i do it just for fun.And since 3 month, with identification/description. I would like/love to go prof. but i canot effort that now.I have not the education,connection,or time for it. But i also will be already lucky, when i would come out of the construction, i want to do something with nature, be outside or so. tja nowadays ---> money !!! Buuuut i will, when and where i can help "mycology" to find all her kids back. maybe i get somedays, the chance to go : fungi !! thanks for your warm lines.

craigwilliams
craigwilliams 12 years ago

Can't say I'd recognise you in the street from that Alex! ;)
I'd like to add my congratulations too of course! If this is just a hobby, have you thought about turning professional? The world needs more mycologists! It's such a massive kingdom and the essential roles of fungi in the ecologies of so many habitats still needs so much study.........

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

for everyone, who don't see it: the reflection [silhouet] (especially good to see at pic 2 & 5) are ME.

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Congrats Alex!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

thanks stianwaaler

Stian Waaler
Stian Waaler 12 years ago

Congrats with spotting of the day!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

thanks atul

Atul
Atul 12 years ago

Congrats for a superb Spotting Buddy!!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

thanks to all of you. This appreciation of my spotting, feels almost like a recognition of my work, even if it is only as a hobby from a wannabe mycologen. love it, thanks a lot.
@ leuba- good news for you, the next few spotting will get really small
@ ashish- sorry, i still try to get for my 5 other mission enough picture, but mostly i have max. 2 mission in which i'm activ

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

WOW! Awesome! Congrats on spotting of the day!

Piali Bopanna
Piali Bopanna 12 years ago

Beautiful colour!

ewanmac09
ewanmac09 12 years ago

that's a good one Alex i think a congrats is in order!

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Hi Alex... Congratulations..!!
Nice and interesting Colour...
Also assign to Red Colour mission too....

Wild Things
Wild Things 12 years ago

Congratulations.

RedPanda
RedPanda 12 years ago

nice!

sl_brett
sl_brett 12 years ago

Amazing color!

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 12 years ago

the best ones appear to be the smallest. Thanks for bringing this to us - really beautiful.

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 12 years ago

perfect Alex,congratulations :-)

textless
textless 12 years ago

Excellent pictures and very interesting... a great pick for spotting of the day. :)

peter
peter 12 years ago

Spotting of the Day!

"Witch's hats are slimy, conically-shaped, scarlet wax caps known for their 'blackened' decaying effects. They are related to species suspected of being poisonous."

http://facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/19...
http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/14...

AlexKonig
Spotted by
AlexKonig

Kerkrade, Limburg, Netherlands

Spotted on Oct 7, 2011
Submitted on Oct 9, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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