| Gliophorus | |
|---|---|
| Gliophorus psittacinus, UK | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Hygrophoraceae |
| Genus: | Gliophorus Herink (1958) |
| Type species | |
| Gliophorus psittacinus (Schaeff.) Herink (1958) |
|
Gliophorus is a genus of agaric fungi in the family Hygrophoraceae. Gliophorus species belong to a group known as waxcaps in English, sometimes also waxy caps in North America or waxgills in New Zealand. The genus was described by Czech mycologist Josef Herink in 1958,[1] but is currently synonymized with Hygrocybe by most standard authorities.[2][3][4] It has, however, been adopted in New Zealand which has an unusually large number of native Gliophorus species.[5]
Recent molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, suggests that Gliophorus is monophyletic and forms a natural group distinct from Hygrocybe sensu stricto.[6] It is therefore likely to be adopted more widely in the near future, as noted in the most recent (2010) European guide to waxcaps.[4]
Species are distinguished from most other waxcaps by producing basidiocarps (fruit bodies) with extremely slimy or glutinous caps and stems.[5]