This small, vividly coloured waxgill occurring in lowland forest litter. It is defined by a distinctive colour trajectory: Young basidiomes: bright orange caps and stipes Mature basidiomes: yellow caps and stipes Lamellae: remain orange‑tinted, never fully yellow This persistent orange in the gills is the key trait separating it from other orange/yellow Hygrocybe in New Zealand. Known for its long fruiting life (4 weeks plus).

Pileus: 10-25 mm wide, bright orange when young. Fades to yellow or orange‑yellow with age. Surface smooth, moist; margin even to slightly wavy. Shape convex to expanded; occasionally very shallowly depressed in older specimens.
Lamellae: Orange‑yellow to orange, always retaining some orange pigmentation even when the cap has faded. Adnate, moderately spaced. Edges smooth.
Stipe: 20-65 x 2-4 mm, slender, cylindrical. Colour orange when young, fading to yellow in older specimens. Surface smooth; no basal mycelial mat noted.
Context: Pale yellow
Odour/tast: not distinctive