Hygrocybe helobia
Hygrocybe helobia, also known as the garlic waxcap, is a small gilled mushroom in the waxcap family. It lives in Europe, usually in old, unimproved grasslands such as pastures and lawns, and it fruits in autumn.
Description: the mushroom is up to about 2 cm across in a dry, matte cap that is finely scaly, starting bright scarlet and turning orange with age. The waxy gills are white to orange-red and are broadly attached to a smooth, pale stem. A white spore print is produced, and the spores are roughly 8–10 by 5–6 μm. Some specimens may smell garlic, especially after being kept in a small container.
Taxonomy: Hygrocybe helobia was first described in 1974 as Hygrophorus helobius by Eef Arnolds and later moved to Hygrocybe. DNA studies support placing it in Hygrocybe sensu stricto.
Ecology: like many waxcaps, its exact lifestyle is unclear; it may be associated with mosses rather than forming a typical mycorrhizal or saprotrophic relationship.
Conservation: garlic waxcap is part of waxcap grasslands, a habitat that is declining due to changes in farming practices. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (IUCN 3.1).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:42 (CET).