Gliophorus viridis
🌿 Mushroom Identification
Verdigris Waxcap (Gliophorus viridis), a vibrant agaric mushroom from the Hygrophoraceae family, is a true forest treasure! Found exclusively in New Zealand and Australia, it stands out with its unique malachite-green cap. 🌳
Cap: A smooth, slimy delight! The cap is glutinous and convex, transitioning from deep green in the center to lighter green at the edges, with striations along the margins. It’s typically 10–15 mm wide.
Stem: Slim and glutinous, measuring up to 50 mm tall, with a signature pale yellow base—a sure sign of its identity!
Gills: Pale green, fading to white, and importantly, without a sticky thread (unlike its cousin Gliophorus graminicolor). 🧪
Flesh: The cap flesh is green, while the base of the stem takes on a subtle orange-grey tone.
Spore Print: White.
Synonyms: Hygrophorus viridis, Gliophorus viridis, Hygrocybe viridis, Hygrocybe stevensoniae.
🔍 Spotting the Difference
Gliophorus viridis has been a source of confusion with G. graminicolor. To tell them apart:
Gliophorus viridis lacks cheilocystidia on its gill edges, making the texture of the edges smooth—a detail visible with a hand lens.
G. viridis is often more vivid green and slimier with a yellower stem base, while G. graminicolor leans blue-green and has a crystalline, grainier texture.
🌧️ Season & Habitat
Look for G. viridis on the forest floor in lowland podocarp broad-leaved forests during early winter. 🍂 It favors rich soil and thrives among mosses and heavily decayed wood, adding a pop of green to the damp forest floors. However, it’s not for snacking—G. viridis is inedible. 🍽️❌
🌱 Fascinating Facts
Though green, Gliophorus viridis doesn’t photosynthesize—it’s a saprobic species, feeding on decayed forest litter. It might look like a tiny forest plant, but its green hue is just a colorful disguise!
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: s f (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Photo 2 - Author: s f (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Photo 3 - Author: Archie (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Photo 4 - Author: Archie (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Photo 5 - Author: Hayden Jones (CC BY-NC 4.0)
