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. In Europe, Cuphophyllus species are typical of waxcap grasslands, a declining habitat due to changing agricultural practices. As a result, six species, Cuphophyllus atlanticus (as C. canescens), C. colemannianus, C. flavipes, C. lacmus, C. lepidopus, and C. radiatus, are of global conservation concern and are listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

==Taxonomy== ===History=== The genus was described by French mycologist Marcel Bon in 1985, though it was subsequently synonymized with Hygrocybe by some authorities. Cuphophyllus species have sometimes been referred to the genus Camarophyllus (Fr.) P.Kumm. Donk (1962) argued that the type species of Camarophyllus must be Agaricus camarophyllus Alb. & Schwein. the species from which the genus takes its name. This would imply 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. However, H. camarophyllus is not a species name included in the protologue of Camarophyllus, and Singer (1951) proposed Agaricus pratensis (= Cuphophyllus pratensis) as the type species of Camarophyllus. If Singer's typification is followed, then Camarophyllus (published in 1871) would be the correct name for Cuphophyllus.