Shiny Caloscypha (Caloscypha fulgens) photo and description

Shiny Caloscypha (Caloscypha fulgens)

:

• Pseudoplectania shining
• Aleuria shining
• Shining spoons
• A shining cup
• Otidella shining
• Plicariella shining
• Detonia shining
• Barlaea shining
• Lamprospora shining

Caloscypha (lat. Caloscypha) is a genus of discomycete fungi belonging to the order Pezizales. Usually allocated to the Caloscyphaceae family. The type species is Caloscypha fulgens.

Fruit body: 0,5 – 2,5 centimeters in diameter, rarely up to 4 (5) cm. Ovate in youth, then cup-shaped with an edge bent inward, later flatter, saucer-shaped. It often cracks unevenly and asymmetrically, then the shape resembles mushrooms of the genus Otidea.

The hymenium (inner spore-bearing surface) is smooth, bright orange-yellow, sometimes with blue-green blotches, especially in places of damage.

The outer surface is pale yellow or brownish with a distinct greenish tint, covered with the smallest whitish coating, smooth.

Leg: either absent or very short.

Pulp: pale yellow, up to 1 mm thick.

spore powder: white, whitish

Microscopy:

Asci are cylindrical, as a rule, with a rather truncated top, no discoloration in Meltzer’s reagent, 8-sided, 110-135 x 8-9 microns.

Ascospores at first ordered by 2, but at maturity by 1, spherical or almost spherical, (5,5-) 6-6,5 (-7) µm; the walls are smooth, slightly thickened (up to 0,5 µm), hyaline, pale yellow in Meltzer’s reagent.

Smell: does not differ.

There are no data on toxicity. The mushroom has no nutritional value due to its small size and very thin flesh.

In coniferous and mixed with coniferous forests ( Wikipedia also indicates deciduous; California Fungi – only in coniferous) on the litter, on the soil among mosses, on coniferous litter, sometimes on buried rotten wood, singly or in small groups.

Shiny Caloscypha is an early spring mushroom that grows simultaneously with Microstoma, Sarkoscypha and spring lines. Fruiting time in different regions is highly dependent on weather and temperature. April-May in the temperate zone.

Widespread in North America (USA, Canada), Europe.

You can call Aleuria orange (Aleuria aurantia), there really is an outward resemblance, but Aleuria grows much later, from the second half of summer, in addition, it does not turn blue.

A number of sources indicate that the brilliant Caloscifa has some resemblance to Sarkoscifa (scarlet or Austrian), but only those who have never seen either Sarkoscifa or Caloscifa can have difficulties with identification: the color is completely different, and Sarkoscifa, just like and Aleuria, does not turn green.

Photo: Sergey, Marina.