Cuphophyllus
Cuphophyllus is a genus of agaric fungi in the family Hygrophoraceae. Cuphophyllus species belong to a group known as waxcaps in English, sometimes also waxy caps in North America or waxgills in New Zealand. In Europe, Cuphophyllus species are typical of waxcap grasslands, a declining habitat due to changing agricultural practices. As a result, six species, Cuphophyllus atlanticus, C. colemannianus, C. flavipes, C. lacmus, C. lepidopus, and C. radiatus, are of global conservation concern and are listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy
History
The genus was described by French mycologist Marcel Bon in 1985, though it was subsequently synonymized with Hygrocybe by some authorities. Cuphophyllus species have sometimes been referred to the genus Camarophyllus P.Kumm. Donk argued that the type species of Camarophyllus must be Agaricus camarophyllus Alb. & Schwein. the species from which the genus takes its name. This would imply that Camarophyllus sensu stricto is a synonym of Hygrophorus, since A. camarophyllus is a Hygrophorus species. This is now accepted by all standard authorities. However, H. camarophyllus is not a species name included in the protologue of Camarophyllus, and Singer proposed Agaricus pratensis as the type species of Camarophyllus. If Singer's typification is followed, then Camarophyllus would be the correct name for Cuphophyllus.Current status
Recent molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, indicates that Cuphophyllus is monophyletic and forms a natural group distinct from Hygrocybe sensu stricto.Description
Species are distinguished from most other waxcaps by producing non-viscid, typically white, grey, or brownish basidiocarps often with decurrent lamellae. Species of the genus Chromosera are superficially similar, though often more brightly coloured.Habitat and distribution
In Europe, Cuphophyllus species are typically found in agriculturally unimproved, short-sward grasslands. Elsewhere, they are most frequently found in woodland. The genus is cosmopolitan.Economic usage
Fruit bodies of one of the commoner European waxcap species, C. pratensis, are edible and widely collected, sometimes being offered for sale in local markets.Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Cuphophyllus:- C. acutoides Lodge, Matheny & Sánchez-García
- C. adonis Lodge & M.E. Sm.
- C. albidocinereus Bon
- C. apricosus J.A. Cooper
- C. atlanticus J.B. Jordal & E. Larss.
- C. aurantiopallens J.A. Cooper
- C. aurantius Lodge, K.W. Hughes & Lickey
- C. austropratensis J.A. Cooper
- C. basidiosus Lodge & Matheny
- C. bicolor Lodge & S.A. Cantrell
- C. bondii Lebeuf & I. Saar
- C. borealis Bon ex Courtec.
- C. canescens Bon
- C. canus J.A. Cooper
- C. carcharias J.A. Cooper
- C. cheelii J.A. Cooper
- C. cinerellus Bon
- C. colemannianus Bon
- C. comosus Lodge, Boertm. & E. Larss.
- C. delicatus J.A. Cooper
- C. esteriae Voitk, I. Saar & E. Larss.
- C. flavipes Bon
- C. flavipesoides J.B. Jordal & E. Larss.
- C. fornicatus Lodge, Padamsee & Vizzini
- C. gloriae J.A. Cooper
- C. griseorufescens Lodge & Padamsee
- C. impurus J.A. Cooper
- C. lacmus Bon
- C. lamarum Voitk, Boertm. & I. Saar
- C. laranja Desjardin & B.A. Perry
- C. lepidopus A.M. Ainsw.
- C. neopratensis Courtec. & Fiard
- C. patinicolor J.A. Cooper
- C. pegleri Lodge
- C. pratensis Bon
- C. pseudopallidus Lodge, Boertm. & E. Larss.
- C. rainierensis Lebeuf
- C. recurvatus Lebeuf
- C. roseascens Lebeuf
- C. roseipes Lüderitz
- C. russocoriaceus Bon
- C. salmonipes J.A. Cooper
- C. virgineus Kovalenko
- C. yacurensis Barili, C.W. Barnes & Ordoñez