The Parrot Waxcap (Gliophorus psittacinus) is one of the most colourful grassland fungi, and its colours change as it ages. When young it is coated in green slime, but the green washes away with age and rain, leaving a yellow, orange or even pinkish cap with a lined edge. The gills are yellow, greener towards the stem, and the very slimy stem is yellow to green.
It grows on unfertilised grassland and heaths, from late summer into winter, and is very common and widespread. It is one of the easiest waxcaps to find, and a sign of old, unimproved grassland.
The Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) is yellow with no green. The Parrot Waxcap is not known to be poisonous, but its slime makes it unappealing, and waxcap grasslands are best left undisturbed.
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Distribution
Very common and widespread.
Habitat
On unfertilised grassland and heaths on clay-rich soils.
Etymology
Gliophorus is from the Greek glia, 'glue', and phoros, 'bearing', after its slime. psittacinus is Latin for 'parrot-like', after its mix of green and yellow.
Cap
The cap is 1-3 cm across, convex to bell-shaped then broadly umbonate, with a striate margin. It is smooth and slimy, yellow to green, the green fading as the slime washes away.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Convex, Umbonate |
| Surface | Smooth |
| Width | 1 - 3 cm |
| Margin | Striate |
Gills
The gills are thick and waxy, emarginate and subdistant, with a smooth edge. They are yellow to yellowish-green, yellow to darker green towards the apex, and the green fades with age.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Attachment | Emarginate |
| Spacing | Subdistant |
| Edge | Smooth |
Flesh
Thin and pale.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Odour | Not distinct |
Stem
The stem is cylindric and very slimy, 20-40 mm long and 2-5 mm wide, with a smooth surface. It is yellow to yellowish-green and green, usually greener near the cap.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Height | 20 - 40 cm |
| Width | 2 - 5 mm |
| Texture | Smooth |
| Shape | Cylindric |
Spores
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ellipsoid |
| Ornamentation | Smooth |
| Size | 7-9.5 x 5-6 μm |
Classification
- ↳ Phylum: Basidiomycota
- ↳ Subphylum: Agaricomycotina
- ↳ Class: Agaricomycetes
- ↳ Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- ↳ Order: Agaricales
- ↳ Family: Hygrophoraceae
- ↳ Genus: Gliophorus
Synonyms
- Agaricus psittacinus Schaeff.
- Hygrocybe psittacina (Schaeff. ex Fr.) Wunsche
- Hygrocybe psittacina (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
- Hygrocybe psittacina var. psittacina
- Hygrocybe psittacina var. psittacina (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
- Hygrophorus psittacinus (Schaeff. ex Fr.) Fr.
- Hygrophorus psittacinus (Schaeff.) Fr.
Reference Sources
T. Læssøe, J. H. Peterson (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe Vol. 1. Princeton University Press.
R. Phillips (2006) Mushrooms. Macmillan.
