Scutellinia erinaceus

What You Should Know

Scutellinia erinaceus may be difficult to distinguish from small specimens of Scutellinia scutellata although S. scutellata usually has a deeper red color. Scutellinia setosa, a species similar in size to S. erinaceus, is orange-red rather than orange with yellow overtones. All these related species differ in microscopic traits and study with a microscope may be necessary to confirm species identification with certain specimens.

Scutellinia erinaceus is a fungal species that was first described by Ludwig David von Schweinitz, and got its current name from Carl Ernst Otto Kuntze in 1891. Scutellinia erinaceus is part of the genus Scutellinia and the family Pyronemataceae.

Other names: Orange Eyelash Cup.

Scutellinia erinaceus Mushroom Identification

1. Fruit Bodies

   1.5-3 (4) mm in diameter.

2. Habitat

   Saprobic; clustered on decaying wood of deciduous trees; July through October.

3. Sterile Outer Surface

   Dull brownish-orange with a fringe of long brown hairs around the perimeter of the cup. These marginal hairs are less than 1 mm long.

4. Fertile Inner Surface

   Yellowish to pale orange-yellow when young to dull orange at maturity.

Scutellinia erinaceus Synonyms

1. Trichophaea erinaceus (Schwein.) Le Gal 1953

2. Humaria erinacea (Schwein.) Kanouse 1948

3. Patella erinaceus (Schwein.) Morgan 1902

4. Peziza erinaceus Schwein. 1822

5. Lachnea erinaceus (Schwein.) Cooke

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: sarahduhon (Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 2 - Author: sarahduhon (Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 3 - Author: sarahduhon (Attribution 4.0 International)