Witch’s Hat

Witch’s Hat is a small waxcap mushroom. It is widespread and common in North America. In Minnesota it is found from early summer through fall in deciduous and mixed woodlands. It grows on the ground in damp soil, alone, scattered, or in groups under hardwood trees, especially oak. In other areas it is also found under conifers and in grasslands. All parts of the mushroom turn black when bruised.

The cap is usually ⅜″ to 1½″ in diameter but occasionally up to 2⅜″ or more in diameter. When it first appears it is sharply cone-shaped, sticky, and usually bright orange, sometimes bright red. As it ages fades to yellow or orangish and flattens out, becoming broadly cone-shaped or broadly convex with a pointed raised center (umbonate). Mature caps are greasy or dry and hairless or covered with fine, silky hairs. Older caps develop black areas and eventually turn completely black.

The stalk is 1¼″ to 3¼″ long and ⅛″ to ⅝″ thick. It may be yellow, olive-yellow, orangish-yellow, orange, or red, but it always has a white to gray base. It is usually grooved, often twisted, and never slimy. Older stalks are hollow, split easily, and eventually turn black.

The gills are thick, closely spaced, waxy, and soft. They are whitish and sometimes tinged with yellow at first, becoming yellow then orange as the cap matures, and fading to gray with age. They are narrowly attached to the stalk. Between the gills there are usually one or more short, thick gills at the margin that do not extend all of the way to the stalk. The spore print is white.

The flesh is thin, waxy, and the same color as the cap. It soon blackens when cut. It was once considered poisonous due to four reported deaths in China, but those reports are now thought to be mistaken. It may be somewhat psychoactive. Eating it is not recommended.

Deciduous woodlands

Early summer through fall