Hygrocybe punicea

Hygrocybe punicea is a species of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the family Hygrophoraceae. It has been given the recommended English name of crimson waxcap. The species has a European distribution, occurring mainly in agriculturally unimproved grassland. Threats to its habitat have resulted in the species being assessed as globally "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Records of H. punicea from North America (where it is called scarlet waxy cap and occurs in woodland), East Asia, and Australia require further research to see if they represent the same species.