Orange-gilled Waxy Cap

(Humidicutis marginata var. marginata)

Conservation Status

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap

 

 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap is a medium-sized, easily identified, wax cap mushroom. It is widespread in North America but not common in the Midwest and northeast. It grows on the ground in humus, sometimes on very rotten wood, in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests. It may be found singly, scattered, or in small groups.

The cap is to 2 in diameter. When it first appears it is broadly cone-shaped or convex and bright orange. As it ages it flattens out at the margins but retains a broad, low bump in the center (umbonate). Mature specimens are almost flat, sometimes with upturned margins. As they age they fade to yellow. The cap is smooth and hairless. It appears watery when wet and opaque when dry. It may be tacky but is not slimy.

The flesh is thin, fragile, waxy, and the same color as the cap.

The stalk is 1½ to 4¾ long, to ¼ thick, and more or less equal from top to bottom. It is hollow, smooth, fragile, and often curved. It may be orange, pale orange, orangish yellow, yellow, or buff.

There is no universal veil.

The gills are broad, thick, well spaced, soft, waxy, and orange. They retain their orange color even long after the cap has faded to yellow. They are broadly attached (adnate) and may very slightly run down the stalk (decurrent), but sometimes they pull away from the stalk (free). The sport print is white.

It is edible but insubstantial and watery.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat and Hosts
 
 

Coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Season

 
 

July to October

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

 
  9/8/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Widespread in North America but not common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Fungi (fungi)  
  Subkingdom Dikarya  
  Division Basidiomycota (club fungi)  
  Subdivision Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)  
  Class Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)  
  Subclass Agaricomycetidae  
  Order Agaricales (common gilled mushrooms and allies)  
  Suborder Hygrophorineae  
  Family Hygrophoraceae (waxcaps and allies)  
  Subfamily Hygrocyboideae  
  Tribe Humidicuteae  
  Genus Humidicutis  
  Species Humidicutis marginata (orange gilled waxcap)  
       
 

Genus
Orange-gilled Waxy Cap mushroom was originally classified as Hygrophorus marginatus. In 1916 it was transferred to Hygrocybe marginata, in 1958 to Humidicutis marginata. All three names are in current use in print and online sources.

Subspecies
Three varieties are recognized; var. marginata, with an orange cap, described here; var. concolor, with a yellow cap, more common in the northeast; and var. olivacea, with a olive-colored cap, more common in the west.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Hygrocybe marginata

Hygrophorus marginatus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Orange-gill Waxcap

Orange-gilled Wax Cap

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Umbonate

On mushrooms, having a distinct, raised, knob-like projection in the center of the cap.

 

Universal veil

An egg-like structure that envelopes all or most of a developing gill mushroom. Remnants of the universal veil sometimes visible on a mature mushroom are patchy warts on the cap, a ring on the stalk, and a volva at the base of the stalk.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Luciearl

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap   Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
 

RuthAnn Duda

 
 

Not sure what these are, trying to identify.

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap   Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
           
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap   Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
           
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap   Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
 

Wanda Stang

 
 

found them on our campground seasonal lot. Pokegama RV park larger one further back by a pond behind our lot. My husband didn't see them and walked on the little guys hence the 2nd photo.

  Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
           
      Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Mushrooms

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap      
           
 

Cap

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap      
           
 

Stem

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap      
           
 

Gills

 
    Orange-gilled Waxy Cap      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Humidicutis marginata - fungi kingdom
Fungi Kingdom
   
 
About

Published on Jan 24, 2015

Humidicutis marginata - fungi kingdom

 

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Last video of this puzzle...? Humidicutis marginata
WildEdibles
 
   
 
About

Jul 21, 2020

Find in nature gave us a clue so don't forget to read the description and comments

Check out the whole playlist here
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

find in nature has found the name of this mystery mushroom
humidicutis marginata

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this fungus.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  Luciearl
8/29/2022

Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap  
  RuthAnn Duda
4/4/2021

Location: Eagan MN (Dakota County)

Not sure what these are, trying to identify.

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap

 
  Wanda Stang
7/5/2018

Location: Pine City, MN

found them on our campground seasonal lot. Pokegama RV park larger one further back by a pond behind our lot. My husband didn't see them and walked on the little guys hence the 2nd photo.

Orange-gilled Waxy Cap

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


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