Peziza micropus

Peziza micropus

Taxonomy

Phylum: Ascomycota

Class: Pezizomycetes

Order: Pezizales

Family: Pezizaceae

This common pezizoid fungus appears on very rotten hardwood, often inside hollow dead stumps, particularly of Beech trees.

Like so many of the commonly encountered cup fungi, identification is made more difficult by its range of colours, which vary with substrate and the stage of development of the fruitbodies.

Synonyms include Aleuria micropus, Otidea micropus and Sarcoscypha cocotina.

Identification guide

Description

Fruitbody comprizes a shallow cup 1 to 5cm across; inner surface smooth, ochre; outer surface slightly paler and finely granular or floury; margin inrolled; its short, narrow stem is usually buried in substrate and not visible without excavating some of the surrounding substrate.

Spore print

White.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive. Like nearly all of the cup fungi, this species in inedible.

Habitat

On rotten hardwoods, notably Beech and elms.

Season

June to November.

Occurrence

Common.

Similar species

There are at least 100 Peziza species and most are various shades of fawn or brown. Definite identification is rarely possible without microscopic examination.