The diameter of its cap usually does not exceed 6 cm. Spore powder is white. Its fruiting body turns black when bruised or aging, so that old or dry fruiting bodies are charcoal black. It grows mostly in grass from May to November. It is common in Latvia. This mushroom is slightly poisonous. (Most Hygrocybe spp. are inedible or poisonous.)

Vāji indīga. Gandrīz visas stikleņu ģints sēnes ir neēdamas vai indīgas. Tās var izmantot vienīgi dekorēšanai, jo šīs sēnes ir ļoti spilgtās krāsās -- dzeltenas, oranžas, sarkanas, pat zaļas un brūnganas.