#plectania

[dopefungi]

📷@yellowelanor - "Plectania nannfeldtii (Donadina nigrella) 🍄 Never have I see such a large cluster of these tiny stemmed black cup fungi before! They can be confused with many other black cup fungi that emerge in the spring, but their slender stem and symmetrical shape helps distinguish them from many others. They nestle into the moss and may appear stemless, a gentle nudge to the moss and you'll find the stem and see it attached to buried sticks or debris." 🔥 🍄Follow @dopefungiart, if you like the content! ☝️ @ Tag your friends who needs to see this 🍄❤ ☆ ✔Make sure to turn on the post notifications! ☆ 📸 thanks to 👉 @yellowelanor 👈 For more stunning pics ⤴ 🍄 #plectania #nannfeldtii🍄 ☆ Tag @dopefungiart in your picture to get featured. Use #dopefungi that we can see your pics. ☆ Remember to sprinkle the spores of Dope fungilove and share @dopefungiart with your fungifriends! 🤗 ☆

[northwestnaturalist]

Pseudoplectania nigrella “black cup fungus” Ascomycota

Lolo National Forest, Bitterroot Mountains, MT March 18, 2015 Robert Niese

These cup fungi are very early bloomers here in the PNW. Some members of this genus will even pop up out of the snow before the plants have even begun to stir. These fungi are quite common, but, along with their small size and inconspicuous coloration, they are easily missed by all but the most observant hikers.

[libutron]

Cup Fungus - Plectania melastoma 

Plectania melastoma (Pezizales - Sarcosomataceae) is a species of  saprophyte cup fungus growing on branches of both coniferous and deciduous trees, which can be found in Europe and in the Northwest of North America.

It is distinctive by having the exterior surface of the apothecia (fruiting bodies) with orange granules, and the inner surface is black, smooth, and glistening.

References: [1] - [2] - [3]

Photo credits: [Top: ©Juan Carlos Poveda Molero | Locality: Sierra de Espadán, Castellón, Valencia, Spain, 2009] - [Bottom: ©randomtruth | Locality: Eaton Trail, San mateo Co., California, US, 2010]