Waxcaps (Hygrocybe spp.), Clavaria, Clavulinopsis and species of a few other genera are indicators of good quality old unimproved grassland in which a short unthatched sward is maintained by grazing or by mowing followed by the removal of cuttings. These sites will never have been treated with artificial fertiliser but if they were to be, the fungi would be eradicated for many decades. The higher the number of Waxcap species present, the higher the quality of the site. Those where 11+ species of Waxcap can be found in a single visit (or 17+ in total) are of national importance, those with 15+ (or 22+ in total) are of International importance. In Britain and Europe such habitats are quickly disappearing through development and farming although in this country we still have many important ones.

























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