Although ‘pratensis’ specifically means fields, reflecting the habitat of the fungus, this and related species can also be found on heaths and pastures often intermixed and forming a most interesting flora. The following are perhaps the most commonly seen:
H. lacma (Fries) Orton & Watling and H. cinerea (Fries) Orton & Watling are similar in stature, but metallic grey in colour except for the persistently yellow stem-base in H. lacma.
H. subradiata (Secretan) Orton & Watling is flesh-coloured or brownish and H. virginea (Fries) Orton & Watling is white.
H. nivea (Fries) Orton & Watling and H. russocoriacea (Berkeley & Miller) Orton & Watling are much smaller, the former white and odourless and the latter off-white with a very strong smell of incense.
Illustrations: F 12b; Hvass 95; LH 77; NB 332; WD 333.
Plate 26. Fleshy fungi: Spores white and borne on thick, waxy gills
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Hygrocybe psittacina (Fries) Wunsche Parrot hygrophorus
Cap: width 12-25 mm. Stem: width 3-8 mm; length 30-60 mm.