Aleuria aurantia (Fries) Fuckel
Jahrb. Nass. Vereins f. Naturkunde 23-24: 325. 1870.

Common Name: Orange Cup

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body 3-7 cm broad, forming irregular cups, split or infolded on one side; context thin, brittle; hymenial surface orange, external surface lighter in color, pruinose.

• Spores

  Spores 16-21 x 10-11 µm, hyaline, elliptical with two oil drops, roughened in a reticulate pattern at maturity.

• Habitat

  On bare soil, typically along trails, banks, and dirt roads. Fruits from late fall to early spring.

• Edibility

  Edible, but of no consequence.

• Comments

  Aleuria aurantia is easily recognized by the sizable orange cups it forms on disturbed ground, e.g. along the edge of paths and dirt roads. Unlike many Ascomycetes, which fruit during the spring, Aleuria aurantia can be found from November through January, the peak of the Bay Area mushroom season.

• References

  Dennis, R. W. G. (1981). British Ascomycetes. J. Cramer: Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 585 p.
  Medardi, G. (2006). Ascomiceti d'Italia. Centro Studi Micologici: Trento. 454 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Tylutki, E.E. (1979). Mushrooms of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest: Discomycetes. University of Idaho Press: Moscow, ID. 133 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Boom: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Tom Duffy: Aleuria aurantia (CP) -- older sporocarps
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Hugh Smith: Aleuria aurantia (CP) -- watch it puff spores!
  • Nathan Wilson: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Pilz-Galerie: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Pilz-Galerie: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Gruppo Micologico G. Camisola: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Kinok-ya: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Spotlight on Fungi: Aleuria aurantia (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Aleuria aurantia (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 837 (D), plate 208 (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 244 (D & CP)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 1): sp. 98 (D, I, & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 35 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 349 (D), plate 603 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 199 (D), p. 199 (CP)
  • Miller: sp. 401 (D & CP)
  • Phillips: p. 306 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 5 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)