eyelash pixie cup

Description:

Among the many species of Scutellinia, Scutellinia scutellata is separated on its fairly large size (for a Scutellinia) and on the micromorphology of its spores and hairs ---- ( musroomexpert:) I probably never would have found Scutellinia scutellata that first time if Nature hadn't shoved it up my nose. The "eyelash cup" is very, very small--and if you click the illustrations for the enlargements, you'll see how it got its common name. (read whole story: { http://www.mushroomexpert.com/scutellini... }). ---- ( http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Scute... )

Habitat:

location: North America, Europe edibility: Inedible fungus colour: Red or redish or pink, Brown, Orange normal size: Less than 5cm cap type: Cup shaped stem type: Lateral, rudimentary or absent spore colour: White, cream or yellowish habitat: Grows on the ground, Grows on wood Scutellinia scutellata (L. ex St. Amans) Lamb. Common Eyelash. Cup 0.2–1cm across, shallowly disc-shaped, inner surface bright orange-red, outer pale brown covered in stiff dark brown or black hairs up to 1,000µ long and 40µ wide towards the forked, rooting bases, narrowing towards the pointed apices, septate; visible without a lens as distinct ‘eyelashed’ rimming the margin. Asci 300 x 25µ. Spores elliptical and with a roughened exterior, containing several small oil droplets, 18–19 x 10–12µ. Habitat on damp soil or rotten wood. Season late spring to late autumn. Common. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe (rogersmushrooms)

Notes:

Scientific name: Scutellinia scutellata (L.) Lambotte Derivation of name: Scutella means "a little dish." Synonyms: Peziza scutellata L.:Fr.; Patella scutellata (L.) Morgan Common name(s): Eyelash cup; Molly eye-winker. Phylum: Ascomycota Order: Pezizales Family: Pyronemataceae Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; solitary or clustered on damp soil and well-decayed (and damp) wood; spring through fall Dimensions: The stalkless, saucer-shaped cups are 3-12 mm wide. Sterile outer surface: Orange or pale brown; covered by long, stiff brown to black hairs which form a fringe on the rim of the cup. Usually, at least some of these marginal hairs are longer than 1 mm. Fertile inner surface: Orange to orange-red, smooth. Edibility: Inedible. Comments: Their bright red color and fringe of "eyelashes" always make this species a joy to find. According to Denison, this is the most commonly collected member of the genus. A related species, S. umbrarum, resembles S. scutellata but is usually found on soil and it has marginal hairs less than 1 mm long. With certain specimens, microscopic examination of the spores may be required to separate these species. ( http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wo... )