9 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Conical to bell shaped, becoming flattened with age, usually with a central bump, surface dry and smooth, deep red, sometimes with paler patches, to about 10 cm across Gills Distant, broad, adnate, reddish with an orange margin Stem Surface dry and smooth, red to orange, rarely yellow, sometimes yellow or even white at the base, becoming hollow with age, to about 2 cm across and 10 cm high Flesh Somewhat fragile, red in the cap, yellow and fibrous in the stem, sometimes white at the stem base Smell Indistinct when fresh. According to Boertmann and others, the fungus smells of honey when drying. In collections I have made the honey smell was only present once the flesh was dry, at which point it was not strong, but quite evident. Season Autumn Distribution Rare Habitat Unimproved grassland Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, not constricted, smooth (7.5-9) x (4.5-5.5) µm2 Edibility Edible, but should not be collected due to rarity Notes Could be confused with H. punicea and H. coccinea. Some experts consider this fungus a variant of H. punicea. I have listed it as a distinct species following the work of Boertmann. 
15 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
15 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
9 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
9 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
9 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
15 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores viewed with a x100 immersion objective. 15 November 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |