Hymenoscyphus calyculus
Description
Hymenoscyphus calyculus represents a group of closely related, tiny cup fungi that decompose hardwood sticks and twigs. It is bright yellow, helping to separate it from many of its brethren, and it has a well developed-though very tiny stem. It could easily be confused with Bisporella citrina, which lacks the stem and usually grows on logs and stumps, rather than twigs and sticks.
Hymenoscyphus conscriptum, treated by some mycologists as a separate species, is nearly identical but features smaller spores (12.5-16 x 3-4 µ) and non-septate paraphyses; it grows exclusively on debris of willows.
Mushroom Identification
Fruiting Bodies
Up to 4 mm in diameter, saucer-shaped, disc-shaped, on the stalk, yellowish, yellow, yellow-orange, mostly clustered, rarely solitary. The hymenial layer is smooth, yellowish, yellow, yellow-reddish, located on the inner surface.
Stem
0.5 - 5 mm high, 0.2 - 0.3 mm in diameter, cylindrical, narrowed down, whitish or yellowish.
Asci
100-120 * 9-10 microns, club-shaped. Spores 15-20 * 4-5 microns.
Habitat
Grows on the branches and leaves of deciduous trees.
Synonyms
Actinothyrium caulincola Schwein., 1832
Calycella conscripta (P. Karst.) Boud., 1907
Calycella conscripta var. alpestris (Rehm) Boud., 1907
Calycella conscripta var. caulincola (Rehm) Boud., 1907
Erinella calyculus (Fr.) Quél., 1886
Helotium calyculus Fr., 1849
Helotium conscriptum P. Karst., 1871
Helotium conscriptum var. caulincola Rehm, 1885
Helotium conscriptum var. oblongisporum Rehm, 1907
Helotium virgultorum Fr., 1849
Helotium virgultorum var. conigenum Rehm, 1872
Helotium virgultorum var. flavescens Stev.
Helotium virgultorum var. rubicola Fr., 1849
Helotium virgultorum var. rufescens Sacc., 1917
Helotium virgultorum var. salicinum Fr., 1849
Helotium virgultorum var. spiraeae (Allesch.) Boud., 1907
Hymenoscyphus conscriptus (P. Karst.) Korf ex Kobayasi, Hirats. f., Aoshima, Korf, Soneda, Tubaki & Sugiy., 1967
Hymenoscyphus infundibulum (Batsch) Kuntze, 1898
Hymenoscyphus virgultorum (Fr.) W. Phillips, 1887
Peziza calyculus Sowerby, 1797
Peziza infundibulum Batsch, 1786
Peziza virgultorum Vahl, 1790
Phialea calyculus (Fr.) Gillet, 1881
Phialea virgultorum (Fr.) Sacc., 1889
Phialea virgultorum var. spiraeae Allesch., 1898
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: Lukas Large (Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic)