result, the Hygrophoraceae as currently understood have no known morphological features in common that define them (synapomorphy). Habitat, nutrition, and distribution The majority of species in the Hygrophoraceae are ground-dwelling, though a few (such as Chrysomphalina species) occur on wood, or on mosses (Arrhenia species), or herbaceous stems (Eonema pyriforme). Most are found in woodland, though (in Europe at least) Hygrocybe species are typical of waxcap grasslands. Species are nutritionally diverse. Hygrophorus species are ectomycorrhizal, typically forming associations with the roots of living trees. Hygrocybe species are now believed to be moss associates, as are some or all species of Arrhenia and Cantharellula. Three genera, Acantholichen, Dictyonema, and Lichenomphalina, are basidiolichens, forming associations with algae and cyanobacteria. A few genera, such as Ampulloclitocybe and Eonema, may be saprotrophic. Members of the Hygrophoraceae are distributed worldwide, from the tropics to the subpolar regions. Over 400 species have been described to date. Economic usage Fruit bodies of some Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe species are edible and widely collected, sometimes being offered for sale in local markets. Examples of wild mushrooms collected and sold include Hygrophorus russula, H. purpurascens, H. chrysodon, and H. hypothejus in Mexico, and H. eburneus and H. latitabundus in the Spanish Pyrenees. Hygrophorus gliocyclus was used as food by the St'at'imc and Nlaka'pamux people of Canada. None is cultivated commercially. References Cited literature Agaricales families Lichen families Taxa named by Johannes Paulus Lotsy Taxa described in 1907