Cuphophyllus monteverdae and C. hygrocyboides (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales) in Norway and Sweden

Abstract

Two poorly known and relatively rare waxcaps Hygrocybe monteverdae and Cuphophyllus hygrocyboides are described, withnotes regarding their distribution and ecological preferences in Norway and Sweden. H. monteverdae is a whitish species originally described from the Canary Islands, characterized by the darkening lamella upon drying. It resembles a slender C. pratensis inhabitus but is whitish. C. hygrocyboides also resembles C. pratensis in both colour and habitus but can be separated based on morphology. C. hygrocyboides is found in calcareous semi-natural grasslands, especially pastures, and also in the low alpine zone and higher alpine vegetation. It is not found below the mid-boreal zone even if it has been found at sea level in the northern part of Norway. H. monteverdae seems to be a strict lowland species found in semi-natural grasslands, alvar vegetation, and open grazed forests on calcareous ground. Phylogenetic analysis shows that H. monteverdae belongs in Cuphophyllus, and the new combination to Cuphophyllus is here proposed.