''Neohygrocybe'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

agaric 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 ...

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

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 ...

. ''Neohygrocybe'' species belong to a group known as waxcaps in English, sometimes also waxy caps in North America or waxgills in New Zealand. In Europe, ''Neohygrocybe'' species are typical of

waxcap grassland Waxcap grassland is short-sward, nutrient-poor grassland that supports a rich assemblage of larger fungi, particularly waxcaps (species of ''Hygrocybe'' and related genera), characteristic of such habitats. Waxcap grasslands occur principally in ...

s, a declining habitat due to changing agricultural practices. As a result, three species, ''

Neohygrocybe ingrata ''Neohygrocybe ingrata'' is a species of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of dingy waxcap. The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agriculturally unimprov ...

'', ''

Neohygrocybe nitrata ''Neohygrocybe nitrata'' is a species of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of nitrous waxcap, based on its smell. The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agr ...

'', and '' Neohygrocybe ovina'', are of global conservation concern and are listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Czech mycologist

Josef Herink Josef Herink (26 December 1915 – 20 August 1999) was a Czech physician and mycologist. Life and career Josef Herink was born in Prague on 26 December 1915. He completed his medical studies at Charles University in Prague before practicing as ...

in 1958. It was formerly synonymized with ''

Hygrocybe ''Hygrocybe'' is a genus of agarics (gilled fungi) in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called waxcaps in English (sometimes waxy caps in North America), basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are often brightly coloured and have dry to waxy caps, white spores, an ...

'' by many authorities, but recent

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 Cladistics (; ) is an approach to biological classification in which organisms are categorized in groups (" clades") based on hypotheses of most recent common ancestry. The evidence for hypothesized relationships is typically shared derived char ...

analysis of

DNA sequences A nucleic acid sequence is a succession of bases signified by a series of a set of five different letters that indicate the order of nucleotides forming alleles within a DNA (using GACT) or RNA (GACU) molecule. By convention, sequences are usua ...

, indicates that ''Neohygrocybe'' is

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

and forms a natural group distinct from ''Hygrocybe'' sensu stricto.

Habitat and Distribution

In Europe, ''Neohygrocybe'' species are typically found in agriculturally unimproved, short-sward grasslands (including pastures and lawns). Elsewhere, they are most frequently found in woodland. The genus is cosmopolitan.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q14947261 Hygrophoraceae Agaricales genera Taxa named by Josef Herink Taxa described in 1958