# Scarlet Waxcap (*Hygrocybe coccinea*)

The Scarlet Waxcap is a vibrant red mushroom that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale! It thrives in grassy places and adds a splash of color to the ground.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grassy fields and meadows
- **Also known as:** Crimson Waxcap, Red Waxcap

![Scarlet Waxcap](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424703/objects/5137.jpg)

## Appearance

The Scarlet Waxcap has a stunning bright red to orange-red cap, often conical or bell-shaped, which can be slimy or waxy when wet. Its gills are the same vibrant color as the cap, descending slightly down its stem. This vivid hue makes it stand out like a tiny jewel in green grasslands.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Agaricales
- **Family:** Hygrophoraceae
- **Genus:** Hygrocybe

## Interesting facts

- Despite their name, Scarlet Waxcaps don't produce real wax, just a glossy, waxy-feeling cap!
- Finding an entire patch of these vibrant fungi feels like discovering a secret treasure!
- Its super bright red color makes it look like a tiny fiery jewel on the grass!
- These mushrooms often grow in 'fairy rings,' creating a magical circle on the ground!

## Special abilities

- **Fiery Beacon:** Scarlet Waxcap has a dazzling red color that helps it stand out against the green grass, signaling its presence in the ecosystem.
- **Spore Shooter:** Scarlet Waxcap can release countless tiny white spores from its gills, which helps them spread to new places.
- **Nutrient Recycler:** Scarlet Waxcap helps break down organic matter in the soil, which helps recycle important nutrients for plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 3-7 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Size:** 2-6 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Fall
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs are known to feed on many types of fungi, including waxcaps.
- **Depends on:** Red Fescue (*Festuca rubra*) — It thrives in grasslands containing such grasses, utilizing their decaying matter.
- **Symbiotic with:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Both contribute to healthy soil structure and nutrient cycling in grassland habitats.

## Traits

- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Scarlet Waxcap?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Scarlet Waxcap?

3-7 cm

### Is Scarlet Waxcap edible?

inedible

### How big is Scarlet Waxcap?

2-6 cm

### Where is Scarlet Waxcap usually found?

Grassy fields and meadows

### What does Scarlet Waxcap grow on?

soil

### When is Scarlet Waxcap in season?

Fall

### What color are Scarlet Waxcap spores?

White

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

---

Source: [Scarlet Waxcap: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scarlet-waxcap)