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Splash Cups

Cyathus striatus

Description:

Cup-shaped, narrowing below. Spores that look like little eggs attached at the bottom of the cup. Very small (1/4 - 5/8") individual mushrooms in large clusters. Colors vary from gray to buff to dark brown. Outer walls look like they're covered in shaggy hairs. Inner walls deeply grooved. As they open, they are filled with white, which dissolves or disappears as the cup opens further.

Habitat:

I found these growing on wood chip mulch under the shade of mature trees in my yard in an older suburban neighborhood.

Notes:

Water falling splashes the spores out of the cups, hence the common name "Splash Cups." This is their method of spore dispersal.

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4 Comments

InannaBintAli
InannaBintAli 12 years ago

Please do. I think that is what this site is for. I enjoy learning from others and sharing.

NoSutt
NoSutt 12 years ago

Hi, I have splash cups as one of my unidentified spottings, mind if I borrow your information?

InannaBintAli
InannaBintAli 12 years ago

The vast variety is part of what fascinates me about fungi.

SusanEllison
SusanEllison 12 years ago

so different from this colorful ones:http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/5931119

InannaBintAli
Spotted by
InannaBintAli

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Spotted on Jul 19, 2011
Submitted on Jul 21, 2011

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