Cuphophyllus

Cuphophyllus is a genus of agaric fungi in the family Hygrophoraceae. Cuphophyllus 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 French mycologist Marcel Bon in 1985. It is synonymized with Hygrocybe by some authorities, although recent molecular evidence confirms its validity as a distinct genus. Cuphophyllus species have sometimes been referred to the genus Camarophyllus (Fr.) P.Kumm., but, as argued by Donk (1962), the type species of Camarophyllus must be Agaricus camarophyllus Alb. & Schwein. the species from which the genus takes its name. This means that Camarophyllus sensu stricto is a synonym of Hygrophorus, since A. camarophyllus is a Hygrophorus species (Hygrophorus camarophyllus). This is now accepted by all standard authorities. Singer (1951), however, proposed Agaricus pratensis (= Cuphophyllus pratensis) as the type species of Camarophyllus, which means that Camarophyllus sensu Singer is a synonym of Cuphophyllus. Recent molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, suggests that Cuphophyllus is monophyletic and forms a natural group distinct from Hygrocybe sensu stricto. It is therefore likely to be adopted more widely in the near future, as noted in the most recent (2010) European guide to waxcaps. Species are distinguished from most other waxcaps by producing basidiocarps (fruit bodies) with strongly decurrent lamellae (gills). Fruit bodies of one of the commoner European waxcap species, C. pratensis, are edible and widely collected, sometimes being offered for sale in local markets.