Lachnellula arida

Description

Lachnellula arida is a unique mushroom species found in the montane regions of California and the western United States. It stands out with its brown, minutely hairy cups and cream to yellowish interior surface. Despite growing in dry environments, these mushrooms are resilient. They shrivel in dry conditions and revive when moisture returns, a process that can happen multiple times.

This species can be observed in the spring following snowmelt or after moistening summer thunderstorms. It's important to note that Lachnellula arida is typically found on conifer wood, particularly true firs (Abies spp.).

In terms of identification, Lachnellula species can be distinguished from similar mushrooms in the Dasyscyphus genus through microscopic features, especially the shape of their paraphyses. Lachnellulas have narrow to slightly club-shaped paraphyses tips, while Dasyscyphuses have lance-shaped tips. Ecologically, Lachnellulas are associated with conifers, while Dasyscyphuses are primarily found on angiosperm wood or debris.

L. arida is named after its desiccation-resistant properties and is recognizable by its cream to yellowish hymenophore, brown hairy exterior, ciliated margin, and spring growth pattern.

Common names: German (Goldgelbes Braunhaarbecherchen).

Mushroom Identification

1. Sporocarp

   Apothecia sessile to substipitae, shallowly cupulate to dish-shaped, 3-8 mm broad at maturity; margin level to incurved, often wavy, lined with short bristly brown, sometimes hyaline-tipped hairs (use hand lens); in dry weather the cup exterior frequently folded over the fertile surface; hymenium glabrous, smooth to slightly wrinkled, cream, buff, yellow to yellowish-orange; external surface densely covered with short brown hairs often matted in age; fruiting body hygroscopic, reviving after drying.

2. Spores

   7.0-9.0 x 4.0-5.0 µm, ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, inamyloid; asci uniseriate; spore deposit not seen.

3. Habitat

   Gregarious to clustered on the bark of downed montane conifers; fruiting during the spring; present in the dried state throughout the year; common.

4. Edibility

   Small and tough, of no culinary value.

Synonyms

• Atractobolus aridus (W. Phillips) Kuntze (1898), Revisio generum plantarum, 3, p. 445

• Dasyscyphus arida (W. Phillips) Sacc. 1889

• Dasyscyphus aridus (W. Phillips) Saccardo (1889), Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitorum, 8, p. 455

• Lachnella arida (W. Phillips) Seaver (1951), The North American cup-fungi (inoperculates), p. 268

• Lachnum engelmanii Tracy & Earle (1901), in Greene, Plantae bakerianae, 1, p. 25

• Peziza arida W. Phillips (1877), Grevillea, 5(35), p. 117, tab. 89, fig. 13 (Basionyme)

• Trichopeziza engelmanii (Tracy & Earle) Saccardo & P. Sydow (1902), Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitorum, 16, p. 1148

• Trichoscyphella arida (W. Phillips) E. Müller & S. Ahmad (1962), Biologia, Lahore, 8(2), p. 159

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Daryl Thompson (woobs) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Dan Molter (shroomydan) (CC BY-SA 3.0)