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Mushroom Monday: Pink Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis)
The Mushroom Monday mushroom for today is the Pink Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis) mushroom. Pink waxcaps are rare mushrooms with the look of a ballerina. Learn more about them in our TrueTreeTalk post below.
Where Can Pink Waxcap Mushrooms be Found?
Pink waxcap mushrooms can be found in the UK, the rest of Europe, and North America. Generally, they can be found growing alone or in small groups in grass that hasn’t had fertilizer applied and in some wooded areas. They are rare mushrooms though, and can be hard to find.
What do Pink Waxcap Mushrooms Look Like?
The caps of pink waxcap mushrooms are domed and can be around 1 to 2.4 inches across. The caps have a pinkish color, are dry, and have a wax-like texture. When the mushrooms are young, the caps have a narrow, pointed cone shape. As they get older, the caps generally split and can turn up. As the mushroom cap opens, they can have the look of a ballerina.
As for the gills, they are pink in color when the mushrooms are young, but they become paler in color as the mushroom ages.
The stems are white, but can also have a slight pink color. They are dry and smooth, and don’t have a ring.
Overall, pink waxcap mushrooms can get around four to five inches tall.
Pink waxcaps are generally pink, but there is also a white variation (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis f. nivea)
What Kind of Mushrooms are Pink Waxcaps?
Pink waxcaps generally were thought to be saprophytic, getting nutrients from dead grass and other plant roots. They could also have a symbiotic relationship with mosses, though.
If you liked learning about pink waxcap mushrooms, check out our other Mushroom Monday posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts.
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