Waxcap and Allied Mushroom (Hygrophoraceae) of the Pacific Northwest

A keyed guide (color, habitat, odor, associate tree, viscidity, etc.) to the waxcaps for the PNW. Species list was compiled from 'Oregon and Washington' iNat place.

Keys

Color: main color(s) of the cap. Habitat: where mushroom is found. Odor: special odors if any. Relationship: mycorrhizal (with tree roots); this seems to be the only known one. KOH positve: stains in KOH solution; see supporting links of species page. Decurrent: species has decurrent gills.. Russula-like: mushroom has stout Russula like appearance. Stains black: mushroom stains black when rubbed. Viscid: traditional dichotomous keys use viscidity of stipe and cap to determine species of Hygrophoraceae.

Notes

Not all Hygrophoraceae are represented in this guide. Some are only common on the east coast or in California, while others are rare and cannot be differentiated from more common varieties without a microscope. Also, some species have been moved into Hygrophoraceae by DNA evidence and do not have the usually characteristics of the family.

Species that do not have enough data for the PNW: Hygrocybe coccinea, Humidicutis marginata, Hygrophorus miniatus, Hygrophorus vernalis, Cantharellula umbonata, Hygrophorus recurvatus, Hygrocybe reidii, Hygrophorus russula, Hygrophorus occidentalis,
and Hygrocybe cantharellus.

These are not visually similar to the family: Arrhenia epichysium, Arrhenia obscurata, Arrhenia chlorocyanea, Panellus serotinus, small moss oysterling, moss oysterling, late oysterling.

needs curation from iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/518943-Hygrophorus-fragrans

References

Trial key to the species of HYGROPHORUS in the Pacific Northwest
Waxy Caps: The Family Hygrophoraceae, in part

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