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Hygrocybe vernacular is a lamellar, small-sized fruiting body of the genus Hygrocybe, which contains both conditionally edible and poisonous representatives. In mycology the species is called: Hygrocybe miniata or strangulate Hygrophorus, or Agaricus, miniatus, Hygrophorus strangulates.
The name of the genus can be translated as wet head, which partly indicates the favorite places of growth and the ability to accumulate liquid in the pulp
What does Hygrocybe vernacular look like?
The mushrooms are quite small:
- cap diameter up to 2 cm, sometimes larger;
- the leg is low – up to 5 cm;
- The thickness of the leg is no more than 2-4 mm.
The cap of the cinnabar-red mushroom is at first bell-shaped, then straightens out, the central tubercle becomes smoothed out or a certain depression forms instead. The edge of the cap is ribbed and may crack. Small mushrooms are noticeable by the bright color of the fruiting body - cinnabar-red or orange. Young caps are covered with small scales, then the matte skin becomes completely smooth, intense red in color, with a slight coating. With any changes in color, from yellowish to reddish, the edges are always lighter. The skin also becomes lighter on older fruiting bodies.
The waxy pulp is thin, brittle, and can become dry as it matures. The bottom of the cap is covered with sparse, widely spaced plates that descend slightly to the stem. Their color also lightens over time from red to yellowish. The mass of spores is white.
The thin, fragile stalk tapers to a yellowish base. Sometimes it bends and becomes hollow inside as it grows. The color of the silky surface is identical to the skin of the cap.
The color of the cinnabar-red appearance can vary from the quality of the substrate to orange, sometimes the edge of the cap is framed by a yellow rim
Where does Hygrocybe vermilion grow?
Small bright mushrooms are found in damp, sometimes dry places:
- in the grass of the meadows;
- in mixed forests on the edges and clearings;
- in marshy areas in mosses.
Hygrocybe vernacular prefers acidic soils and is a saprotroph on humus. The fungus is distributed almost throughout the world in the temperate climate zone. In Russia they are also found throughout the country from June to November.
The cinnabar-red species is similar to other inedible members of the genus with a reddish or orange coloration:
- Hygrocybe marsh (Hygrocybe helobia);
The species differs from cinnabar-red in its white-yellowish plates and is found only in marshy areas
- Hygrocybe oak (Hygrocybe quieta);
Mycelium settles near oak trees
- hygrocybe waxy (Hygrocybe ceracea).
Mushrooms are characterized by an orange-yellowish color.
Is it possible to eat Hygrocybe vermilion?
The fruiting bodies of the species are believed to be free of toxins. But the mushroom is inedible, and many sources say that it is not worth taking. There is no odor from the fruiting bodies of Hygrocybe vernacular.
Conclusion
Hygrocybe vernacular is widespread in different countries. Mushroom pickers are mostly afraid to take a species that is obviously unfamiliar. Therefore, in the scientific literature there are no described cases of the negative effects of its substances on the human body.
