Eyelash Cup Fungus: Scutellinia scutellata

Sporocarp
Fruit body 0.5-1.5 cm broad, at first nearly round, becoming disc-shaped, the margin reflexed, sometimes wavy, with long (1-2 mm), stiff, dark-brown to black hairs; hymenium (upper surface) red to orange, smooth; lower surface colored like the hymenium but duller, also hairy, but not so conspicuously as the cup margin; stipe absent; flesh thin.

Spores
Spores 17-20 x 11-13 µm, elliptical, slightly warted, hyaline, containing one to several oil droplets.

Habitat
Gregarious to grouped on moist, well rotted wood, less commonly on soil; fruiting from late winter to spring.

Edibility
Insignificant, of no culinary value.

Comments
This brightly colored cup fungus is a harbinger of spring, often fruiting after the majority of mushrooms have disappeared. It is recognized by long, stiff, dark-colored marginal cup hairs and a red to orange hymenium. Other Scutellinia species, told apart by hair length, substrate preference and spore morphology may also occur in our area.