Honey Waxcap - Hygrocybe reidii

A small fungus with a cap diameter of 1 to 4.5 cm. The cap is a bright rich orange-red in colour when younger, but fading to a dull or pinkish-orange with age.  Unlike many other orange and red waxcaps, it has a dry cap that become flaky with age. The cap is initially convex becoming depressed at the centre. Gills are decurrent and paler than the cap.  The crushed stipe and cap have a pleasant sweet smell of honey.

There are several other similar species, but honey waxcap has a dry cap, not slimy, sticky or greasy, and honey scent

smell/texture

Check for the dry cap and honey scent

This is difficult to identify from photos.  Photograph the cap and the gills.  Your notes must describe the texture of the cap (slimy/sticky/greasy/dry?) and the scent of the crushed stem/cap.  To detect the smell, you may need to collect a specimen, crush it and put into a sealed container for a few minutes before opening and sniffing immediately

Found in old unimproved grassland, grazed or mown, in pastures, parklands and in close-mown turf in lawns, churchyards and cemeteries

Autumn

Infrequent but widespread in Britain.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.