Common Eyelash

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Eyelash Cup is a small, common, very widespread, cup fungus. It is small for a fungus but large for a Scutellinia. It has a worldwide distribution, occurring on every continent except Greenland. It occurs throughout North America but is most common from Maine to Minnesota, south to North Carolina and Tennessee, and in the West Coast states. It is common in Minnesota. It is easy to recognize but easily overlooked due to its small size. It is found from spring through fall, in small groups or larger clusters, usually soon after a rain. It grows on well rotted wood or on damp ground nearby. It obtains its nutrients form dead wood (saprobic).

When it first appears it is nearly spherical and bright red to scarlet or orange. As it grows it spreads out into a shallow cup. Mature specimens are flat, disk-like, and 1 ⁄16″ to ⅝″ (2 to 15 mm) in diameter. Around the margin there is a fringe of dark brown or blackish, eyelash-like, up to 1 ⁄32″ (1 mm) long hairs. The under (outer) side is covered with shorter dark hairs.

There is no stalk.

The flesh is very thin. It is edible but too small and insubstantial to bother with collecting.

Rotting wood

Spring through fall

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Common and very widespread

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Location: Hennepin County

Location: Cass County