waxycap

9.9

A brightly colored mushroom with gills under its cap that look smooth and soft

noun
/ˈwæksɪˌkæp/

Specialized

: hongo ceroso

The meadow was dotted with bright red waxycap mushrooms after the rain.

Examples

Scientists studied the habitat preferences of several waxycap varieties in European forests.
The waxycap mushroom is often found in damp forests.
Many species of waxycap are prized for their striking colors and unusual textures.
Have you ever seen a waxycap before?
The meadow was dotted with bright red waxycap mushrooms after the rain.
Scientists studied the habitat preferences of several waxycap varieties in European forests.
The waxycap mushroom is often found in damp forests.

Synonyms

Hygrocybe

vswaxycap

Specialized

9.9

A group of brightly colored mushrooms called waxcaps that grow in grassy places

refers to family members with waxy gills rather than to one genus

Compounds

conic waxycap

Specialized

9.9

A mushroom with a sharply pointed bright cap and dry stem

Surface Forms

waxycap singular

waxycaps plural

Morphology

waxycap = waxy + cap (transparent) = waxy + cap

A straightforward descriptive compound: a mushroom cap that has a waxy appearance or texture.

Etymology

Waxycap comes from the parts waxy (from wax, meaning 'soft and shiny like candle wax') and cap ('top' of a mushroom). So a waxycap is a mushroom whose gills feel 'wax-like' under the cap, and that image helps you remember the name.