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Ballerina Waxcap

Porpolomopsis calyptriformis

Months

Season

Colour

Pink waxcap fungi growing in short green lawn

How to identify:

CapPale pink, fading with age. Conical at first then spreading and splitting. 
Cap Diameter2 – 7 cm across 
Gills Pale pink when young, becoming paler 
StemsWhite
FleshN/A
SporesWhite

 

 

Where to find them?

The Ballerina Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calytriformis) is uncommon and localised in Britain and Ireland.

Due to favouring unimproved acid or neutral grassland it is more often seen in western Britain and particularly in Wales, sometimes in churchyards but more often on sheep-grazed acid grassland in the hills. 

Did you know?

Commonly referred to as the Ballerina Waxcap, because of the way the pink cap flares out and splits like a tutu or pirouetting dancer.  

The Ballerina Waxcap is on the The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (ICNU) Red List. At present it is a decreasing species and listed as vulnerable.

Don’t mistake it with…

The Meadow Waxcap.

 

Other Species

Scarlet Waxcap

Hygrocybe coccinea

9 scarlet red waxcap mushrooms in among grass.

How to identify:

CapRed, moist and domed at first, becoming flatter with age
Cap DiameterTo 6 cm
GillsRed or yellow, broadly attached to the stem
StemRed or orange, dry and smooth
FleshRed or the same colour as the outside of the mushroom
SporesWhite

 

 

Where to find them?

With a preference for unfertilised land, the Scarlet Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea)  can be found on cropped grassland and woodland clearings. They often appear in large troops (a group).

Did you know?

Hygrocybe means ‘watery head’, these waxcaps are always very moist.  Coccinea means bright red (as in the food colouring cochineal) . The image above shows the justification of the name.

Don’t mistake it with…

The Crimson Waxcap

Other Species