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December will be magic again. It is the month that brings warmth and joy to hearts. With its festive lights, cozy gatherings, and merriment everywhere, December casts a spell on us like no other time of the year. It is a month of nostalgia, traditions, and anticipation. As the winter chill sets in, the holiday spirit fills the air. Streets are adorned with colorful decorations, twinkling lights, and grand Christmas trees.

As it is currently described, H. conica is found on the ground under hardwood and conifer trees in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. You can find the Witch’s Hat across North America fruiting from early summer through fall, or fall through winter in warmer climates like California. There are usually a few to many of these mushrooms scattered around a small area, so if you see one make sure to look around for more! 1,3

I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest.

Streets are adorned with colorful decorations, twinkling lights, and grand Christmas trees. The aroma of freshly baked cookies and gingerbread fills the houses, inviting loved ones to gather around and share stories and laughter. December is a time of giving and receiving.

Witch hat mushroon

In keeping with a Halloween theme, this month's fungus is the witch's hat mushroom, Hygrocybe conica, also known as Hygrophorus conicus (more on the taxonomy later). With its orange color and witch hat shape, this mushroom is a natural for Halloween. This fungus is common this time of year in coniferous and mixed conifer/hardwood woods-- we took this picture of mushrooms collected by Bernadette O'Reilly in a mixed pine and scrub red oak forest a couple weeks ago. At least here in the midwestern USA, the further north you go, the more likely you are to find Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus specimens. Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus species are reportedly mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers, although I've yet to see definitive proof. They certainly are difficult to culture, indicating that there's something (essential nutrients?) missing in "normal" media.

You may have learned this species as Hygrophorus conicus, but for many year there Hygrocybe has been segregated from Hygrophorus. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. In the field the distinctions between the genera are pretty clear, with a few exceptions. A third genus Camarophyllus, is also segregated out by some. These genera are placed in the family Hygrophoraceae because of their waxy gills and mycorrhizal habit. My students often have trouble with "waxy." I tell them to think of waxy here as the consistency of soft candle wax, not of hardened cold candles.

These genera, once all placed in the genus Hygrophorus, are now separated from one another on the basis of microscopic characters, primarily the arrangement of the hyphae in the gill trama. The gill trama is the flesh of the gills, underneath the outside layer of basidia and basidiospores. To determine the arrangement of the trama, you should look to see how the hyphae grew out from the center of the mushroom toward the outside. In Hygrocybe the gill trama hyphae are parallel to subparallel. In Hygrophorus the trama is divergent. The arrangement of the trama is considered by most agaricologists to be a very important character at the generic level. In the picture to the left, you can see the parallel trama of Hygrocybe conica and the divergent trama of Hygrophorus russula. The origin of each gill section is to the right, and the end of the gill of each section is to the left. The basidia are borne on the outside of the gills, showing up as a dark, dense area in these sections.

However, lumper that I am, I did not believe the distinction was valid until I went to a foray in 1997 in the mountains of New Mexico and saw many species of Hygrophorus there (we don't have very many of these species in our area). Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe are quite different in stature and overall appearance. Hygrocybe species tend to be more brightly colored and much smaller, although there are some bright white Hygrocybe species bigger than any Hygrophorus I've ever seen. Hygrophorus species tend to have more muted colors and are much larger. If you are a "lumper," you might still consider that all these species belong in a single genus, Hygrophorus. Bill Cibula (now retired from NASA) worked on the carotenoid pigments in these genera many years ago, although little of it is yet published. Someone also needs to work on the DNA of these organisms. Taxonomy is often a matter of opinion anyway.

There are many other species of Hygrocybe , ranging in color from red to yellow to orange to white. To the left is Hygrocybe psittacina, the parrot mushroom, so named because of the green color fading out to yellow as it ages. There are many other species of Hygrocybe that may litter the ground, especially in conifer areas.

Below is Hygrophorus russula, our most common Hygrophorus in the midwestern USA. The epithet names comes from the superficial similarity of its fruiting bodies to those of Russula. Note the more muted coloration compared to the Hygrocybe specimens. You probably can't tell from this picture, but these specimens are ten times larger than any of the Hygrocybe species pictured on this page. However, there certainly are a wide variety of colors and sizes represented in each of the genera. Be on the lookout for them in your area.

I hope you enjoyed learning something about Hygrocybe conica. And I hope you have a Happy Halloween. Maybe you should incorporate a mushroom into your Halloween costume? I'd love to see a picture if you do. I'll even include it online if you give me permission to do so.

• Tremella mesenterica, witch's butter.
• Claviceps purpurea, cause of the plant disease ergot and likely factor in the Salem Witch Trials
• Omphalotus olearius, the Jack-O-Lantern Mushroom.

A spore print is the pattern produced when a mushroom is allowed to drop its spores onto a surface. Spore prints are taken to assess the color of a mushroom’s spores.

It is a time to express appreciation to the ones we love and to extend a helping hand to those in need. Whether it's through small acts of kindness or grand gestures, December reminds us of the importance of generosity and compassion. The magic of December lies in its ability to bring people together. Families come together from near and far to celebrate the holidays. Friends gather for festive parties, exchanging gifts and creating lasting memories. Communities unite in various events and celebrations, fostering a sense of connection and belonging. December also marks the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the future. It is a time to celebrate achievements, learn from challenges, and look forward to new opportunities. December will be magic again. It is a reminder to embrace the joy, love, and wonder that this month brings. It is a time to cherish the moments spent with loved ones, create new traditions, and let the spirit of the season fill our hearts. Let us immerse ourselves in the magic of December and let it inspire us to spread kindness, love, and hope throughout the year..

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