Cyathus stercoreus (Schw.) de Toni Fruit body 4-8mm across, 5-15mm high, shaped like a goblet or narrow inverted cone; outer surface brownish orange to grayish or yellowish brown, covered with shaggy hairs that wear off in maturity leaving a smooth surface; inner surface lead gray to blackish, smooth. Goblet contains flattened dark grayish-brown "eggs" initially concealed by a thin whitish membrane across the mouth of the cup, which withers in maturity. Eggs usually attached by a slender, fragile cord, but this is sometimes not evident. Spores subglobose to ovoid, thick-walled, 22-35 x 18-30µ. Habitat scattered or in dense clusters on dung, manured soil, and sawdust piles. Common. Found widely distributed throughout North America. Season July-October. Not edible. |