Hygrocybe helobia

This morning, while walking behind the house, I came across something that immediately made me stop. On a bed of damp moss stood three small, bright red mushrooms. The shape is unique, with yellowish orange stems and a red cap that looks a bit wet, as if it had been drenched in morning dew. After looking into it, it turned out that this was Hygrocybe helobia, a wax fungus that usually grows in areas that are clean from pollution.

This fungus grows near former bathing places that have not been used for a long time. Maybe because this place is always damp and overgrown with moss, the beautiful Hygrocybe helobia feels comfortable living there. I crouched closer, trying to capture the details with the macro lens. From a certain angle,
Interestingly, Hygrocybe helobia is known as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. If this fungus grows somewhere, it means the soil there is still quite good and not contaminated with chemicals.

While taking some photos, I imagined how this mushroom appeared. Maybe their spores have been there for a long time, then grew after the rain fell in the last few days. Or maybe there is a small animal that accidentally brought these spores to where it is now. Whatever it is, their presence makes this small corner feel more lively and colorful.

As usual, I will continue to monitor their progress. Who knows, maybe some of his friends will grow up too! For friends who like observing mushrooms, have you ever found Hygrocybe helobia too?

NOTE: I first wrote the article above in Indonesian, which is my own language, then I translated it using English with the help of Goggle.