Eyelash Cup - Scutellinia scutellata

Tiny, stalkless, orange cup fungi. The largest was almost 2 mm. The outer edges of the fruiting bodies were covered with a fringe of long, dark hairs that resemble eyelashes.

Growing on a rotting stick near a river.

comments (2)

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Gorgeous! Did you scope them? This genus can't be IDed at species level without microscopy to my knowledge. Posted 7 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Oops, sorry! I missed your comment. I didn't scope them, and you're right - ID can't be confirmed 100% without microscopy....But, I based the ID on a few factors - this is the most common and widespread species in my area, the color was a perfect deep orange match, it was on rotting wood, and the eyelashes were long. Plus, the size was in the correct range. Some similar species are much larger (twice as large) or smaller. Although, to be certain, I may go back in the next week or so to collect some...I kept them in a safe spot ;)
  Posted 7 years ago

The Eyelash cup

Scutellinia scutellata, commonly known as the eyelash cup, the Molly eye-winker, the scarlet elf cap, the eyelash fungus or the eyelash pixie cup, is a small saprophytic fungus of the genus Scutellinia. It is the type species of Scutellinia, as well as being the most common and widespread.

Info 19 0

Similar species: Pezizales

Species identified by Christine Young