Three identification units in Hygrocybe are keyed out separately, to cover the three subgenera of this diverse genus.

• Hygrocybe subgenus Cuphophyllus has an interwoven lamellar trama, and the fruit-bodies are often white or brown (although the pileus can be bright yellow, orange or purple).

• Hygrocybe subgenus Hygrocybe has a regular lamellar trama, with very long elements (more than 1000 µm long). Fruit-bodies can blacken and the lamellae attachment is free to narrowly adnate.

• Hygrocybe subgenus Pseudohygrocybe has a regular lamellar trama (with elements less than 400 µm long). Fruit-bodies do not blacken, and there is a wide range in the type of lamellae attachment.

Hygrocybe (Fr.) P.Kumm., Führer Pilzk. 26, 111 (1871).

Bertrandia R.Heim [is subgenus Hygrocybe], Camarophyllus (Fr.) P.Kumm. [is subgenus Cuphophyllus], Cuphophyllus (Donk) Bon [is subgenus Cuphophyllus], Gliophorus Herink. [is subgenus Pseudohygrocybe]