Ali Mckernan

Cedar cup

Scientific name: Geopora sumneriana

This fascinating cup fungus is a lovely thing to stumble upon -should you be lucky enough!

Species information

Statistics

The cups are 4 - 7cm across when mature, and 5cm tall

Conservation status

Uncommon to occasional (possibly overlooked)

When to see

December to May

About

Forming partially buried little crowns in the ground, the cedar cup spends most of its time concealed as a sphere below ground, before bursting through the soil to reveal its star like rays.

How to identify

Although you're unlikely to mistake this for anything else, there are a couple of potential lookalikes of a similar ilk, though this is considerably larger. This thin fleshed fungus has a dark brown outer surface covered in very fine hairs, with the inside displaying a lovely pale cream colour. As it matures, the rim splits into a number of rays (between 5 and 8) to create a crown like effect. Most significantly, this grows almost exclusively with cedar, so if that's what you happen to be stood beneath whilst staring at these, then you've got yourself a cedar cup!

Distribution

Widespread but occasional.

Habitats

Towns and gardens

Did you know?

This particular fungus is an 'Ascomycete', meaning it shoots its spores out from the inside surface. You can sometimes visibly see this if you puff on a sheltered fruitbody. It will look as though the cup is smoking!