''Cuphophyllus atlanticus'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Hygrophoraceae The Hygrophoraceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. Originally conceived as containing white-spored, thick-gilled agarics (gilled mushrooms), including ''Hygrophorus'' and ''Hygrocybe'' species (the waxcaps or waxy caps), DNA evide ...

. Until recently (2021), the species was considered to be conspecific with the North American '' Cuphophyllus canescens'', but DNA sequencing has shown that it is distinct. As ''C. canescens'', it has been given the recommended English name of felted waxcap in the United Kingdom. ''Cuphophyllus atlanticus'' has a European and North American distribution, occurring in Europe mainly in agriculturally unimproved grassland. Threats to its habitat have resulted in ''C. canescens'' (including ''C. atlanticus'') being assessed as globally "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Taxonomy

The species was first described from Norway in 2021 as a result of

molecular A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioche ...

research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences. Previously, European specimens had been referred to the similar '' Cuphophyllus canescens'', but the latter species appears to be confined to North America.

Description

Basidiocarps are

agaricoid An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushrooms ...

, up to 40mm (1.5 in) tall, the cap broadly convex to flat when expanded, up to 40mm (1.5 in) across. The cap surface is smooth, dry, slightly felted, grey to bluish grey. The lamellae (gills) are thick, decurrent (running down the stipe), pale grey. The stipe (stem) is smooth, white to pale grey, lacking a ring. The spore print is white, the spores (under a microscope) smooth, inamyloid, subglobose, c. 5.5 to 6 by 4.5 to 5 μm.

Similar species

In Europe, the felted waxcap is distinguished from other grey species of ''

Cuphophyllus ''Cuphophyllus'' is a genus of agaric fungi in the family Hygrophoraceae. ''Cuphophyllus'' species belong to a group known as waxcaps in English, sometimes also waxy caps in North America or waxgills in New Zealand. In Europe, ''Cuphophyllus'' s ...

'' by its dry, slightly felted cap that is never viscid or greasy. In North America, ''C. canescens'' is very similar, but is said to have drab or brownish tints in the cap and (microscopically) smaller, more globose spores measuring 4 to 5 μm across.

Distribution and habitat

In Europe, DNA studies have confirmed the presence of the felted waxcap in Norway, Sweden, and Scotland. This is the same northerly distribution previously noted for "''C. canescens''" in Europe. In North America, ''C. atlanticus'' has been confirmed from the United States (North Carolina) and Canada. Recent research suggests waxcaps are neither

mycorrhizal A mycorrhiza (from Greek μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. mycorrhizae, mycorrhiza or mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plan ...

nor

saprotrophic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...

but may be associated with mosses.

Conservation

In Europe, ''Cuphophyllus atlanticus'' is typical of waxcap grasslands, a declining habitat due to changing agricultural practices. As a result, the species is of global conservation concern and (as ''C. canescens'' sensu lato) is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

References