Tarzetta cupularis - Toothed Cup

Taxonomy

Class: Pezizomycetes

Order: Pezizales

Family: Pyrenomataceae

This rather uncommon pezizoid fungus appears on woodland tracks and occasionally on woodchip mulch. The Toothed Cup is a neat, inedible little fungus and rarely jostles its neighbours for growing space.

Like so many of the cup fungi, identification is almost impossible without microscopic examination. Tarzetta scotica is considered by some authorities to be a synonym, while others class it as a separate species. Viewed at a macro level the two are virtually identical.

Identification guide

Description	Fruitbody comprizes a fairly deep cup 0.6 to 2cm across often with a short buried stem; inner surface is smooth, light ochre; outer surface is also light ochre but downy; margin incurved; whitish stem up to 1cm long, 2 to 4mm dia.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive. Like nearly all of the cup fungi, this species in inedible.
Habitat	On woodland tracks and occasionally on sawdust heaps and woodchip mulch.
Season	June to November.
Occurrence	Uncommon.
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.