Hygrocybe punicea (Fr.Fr.) Kummer Syn. Hygrophorus puniceus (Fr.) Fr. Cap 3–7cm across, irregularly bell-shaped and often lobed, deep blood-red when fresh, soon fading to orange-red, greasy. Stem 50–120 x 6–20mm, yellow flushed with red, white towards the pointed base, the surface covered in coarse fibres. Flesh white at base and in centre of stem, concolorous or yellow under the cuticle, stem becoming hollow. Taste and smell not distinctive. Gills adnexed, yellowish later becoming flushed with cap colour. Spore print white. Spores broadly elliptical, 9–12 x 5–6um. Habitat amongst short grass in fields and heaths. Season autumn. Rare. Edible. (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.) Distinguished from the more common H. coccineus by its larger size and the base of the coarse stem being white. Distribution, America and Europe.