Cuphophyllus flavipes
Cuphophyllus flavipes is a species of agaric in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of yellow foot waxcap. The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agriculturally unimproved grassland. Threats to its habitat have resulted in the species being assessed as globally "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy
The species was first described from Germany in 1891 by mycologist Max Britzelmayr as Hygrophorus flavipes. It was transferred to the genus Cuphophyllus by the French mycologist Marcel Bon in 1985.Recent molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has confirmed that Cuphophyllus flavipes is a distinct species.
Description
Basidiocarps are agaricoid, up to 60mm tall, the cap broadly conical to flat or slightly depressed when expanded, up to 40mm across. The cap surface is smooth, slightly greasy when damp, grey to brownish grey. The lamellae are waxy, thick, decurrent, pale to dark grey. The stipe is smooth, pale greyish to white but yellow towards the base, lacking a ring. The spore print is white, the spores smooth, inamyloid, ellipsoid, c. 6 to 7.5 by 5 to 6 μm.Similar species
The recently described, Scandinavian Cuphophyllus flavipesoides is very similar, having the lower part of the stipe flushed yellow, but has slightly narrower spores. Cuphophyllus lacmus is similarly coloured, but lacks the yellow base to the stem.Distribution and habitat
The yellow foot waxcap is widespread but uncommon throughout Europe. Like most other European waxcaps, Cuphophyllus flavipes occurs in old, agriculturally unimproved, short-sward grassland.Recent research suggests waxcaps are neither mycorrhizal nor saprotrophic but may be associated with mosses.