Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Wulfen) P.D. Orton & Watling
(Snowy Waxcap)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
VarietyHygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
SpeciesHygrocybe virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
SubgenusCuphophyllus (a subgenus of waxcaps)
GenusHygrocybe (waxcaps, waxcap mushrooms)
FamilyHYGROPHORACEAE (waxcaps and woodwaxes)
OrderAGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap) :
1: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
14 Oct 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: CapImage 2: Cap showing gill attachmentImage 3: Cap showing gill attachment (2)Image 4: Cap showing margin and decurrent gillsImage 5: FruitbodyImage 6: Fruitbody (2)Image 7: Fruitbody (3)Image 8: Fruitbody - LSImage 9: Fruitbody - LS showing gill attachmentImage 10: Half-dry capImage 11: Half-dry cap (2)Image 12: Old fruitbody
2: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
13 Oct 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: FruitbodyImage 2: Fruitbody (2)Image 3: Fruitbody - LSImage 4: GillsImage 5: Stipe
3: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
6 Nov 1979 OSGR: SU93 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
single specimen, in grass at roadside
Image 1: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 2: Description
4: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
5 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
Image 1: Description
5: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
5 Nov 1978 OSGR: SU73 51° 0’ N, 0° 60’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
double specimen in grassland on down
Image 1: Double fruitbodyImage 2: Description
6: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
29 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in horse-grazed pasture
Image 1: DescriptionImage 2: Description (2)
7: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
23 Oct 1978 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
in short chalk sward, in shade of willow/hazel
Image 1: Description
8: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
19 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU96 51° 30’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in field amongst short grass
Image 1: Description
9: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
15 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
in grassland
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Description
10: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
15 Oct 1977 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
Image 1: Fruitbodies - oblique view - in situImage 2: Fruitbody - side view showing gills - lain down - enlarged
11: Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
23 Dec 1971 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Gills, and fruitbody - side view - in situ

Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 2 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Hygrocybe virginea var virginea (Snowy Waxcap)

A small to medium-sized white waxcap with decurrent gills and a hygrophanous, slightly greasy cap. It often grows in troops in unfertilized grassland and lawns as well as fixed dunes, heathland and roadsides. It has a greater tolerance of disturbance and fertiliser residues than most other waxcaps (including the other varieties of this species) and is among the first to establish on abandoned fields. It is very common and widespread. Until recently a separate species, Hygrocybe nivea, was recognised, largely on the basis of spore size: this is now felt to be untenable.

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