Hygrophorus camarophyllus

What You Should Know

Hygrophorus camarophyllus is a species of edible fungus in the genus Hygrophorus. It is a medium-sized agaric that is distinct because of the dry, streaked cap, white, waxy gills that contrast beautifully with the carbon-brown cap and stem. Gills are white to barely dirty gray. Grows under conifers in mossy pine forests all over Scandinavia. Has a fairly modest taste but still a delicacy.

Other names: Arched Wood Wax, Smoky Waxy-Cap, Sooty Brown Waxy-Cap.

Hygrophorus camarophyllus Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   Cap 2-7 cm diameter, stem 2.5 - 13 cm tall * 1 - 2 cm thick. Umbonate and often with a raised boss in the center of the cap, carbon-brown to gray-black with dark radial streaks.

2. Gills

   Decurrent, sparse, waxy, first white, with age white-gray.

3. Stem

   Stem top often brighter than other stem but not always, otherwise grayish with ingrown threads, cylindrical or narrowed downward, solid to stuffed.

4. Flesh

   Flesh white, brittle, with a mild flavor and pleasant aroma.

5. Similar Species

   Hygrophorus calophyllus has a slimy viscid, evenly pigmented cap, pink gills, and broadly ellipsoid spores. Hygrophorus marzuolus, which fruits almost exclusively in spring near melting snow, differs primarily in having a viscid cap (when wet) and an unpleasant, mouse cage-like odor.

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Photo 2 - Author: Ron Pastorino (Ronpast) (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)