About this fungus
Glazed Cup is a fungus in the Pyronemataceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small deep cup with a smooth cream to pale grey inner surface and a densely hairy brown exterior, including a conspicuous fringe around the rim.
What to check
Use magnification to check that stiff brown hairs cover the entire outer surface and project above the rim. The inner surface is smooth and pale, and the cup has no stem, ring or volva.
Variation
Young fruitbodies are almost hemispherical and later open into broader cups up to about 3 cm wide. The inner surface may be white, cream or faintly blue-grey.
Lookalikes
Other eyelash cups are often smaller or have orange, red or dark inner surfaces. Similar pale hairy cups may require microscopic examination of spores and hairs.
Habitat and range
Occurs on rich woodland soil and sometimes well-decayed hardwood, often near broadleaf trees, across northern temperate regions.
Food safety
Inedible.