Scutellinia scutellata
Fl. Myc. Belg. Suppl. 299. 1887.
Common Name: Eyelash Cup Fungus
Synonym: Patella scutellata (L.) Morgan
Fruit body 0.5-1.5 cm broad, at first nearly round, becoming disc-shaped, the margin reflexed, sometimes wavy, with long (1-2 mm), stiff, dark-brown to black hairs; hymenium (upper surface) red to orange, smooth; lower surface colored like the hymenium but duller, also hairy, but not so conspicuously as the cup margin; stipe absent; flesh thin.
Spores 17-20 x 11-13 µm, elliptical, slightly warted, hyaline, containing one to several oil droplets.
Gregarious to grouped on moist, well rotted wood, less commonly on soil; fruiting from late winter to spring.
Insignificant, of no culinary value.
This brightly colored cup fungus is a harbinger of spring, often fruiting after the majority of mushrooms have disappeared. It is recognized by long, stiff, dark-colored marginal cup hairs and a red to orange hymenium. Other Scutellinia species, told apart by hair length, substrate preference and spore morphology may also occur in our area.
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