commonly known black felt cup black cup fungus species fungus family fruit bodies species resemble small black shaped shallow cups wide stems long attached black fruit bodies appear groups ground usually attached buried woody debris commonly associated melting snow found western north_america asia higher elevations similar black cup fungi confused include taxonomy species described british mycologist called monograph cup fungi north_america type specimens found colorado mycologist collections reported colorado california species referred transferred species current changing specific epithet process use synonym chosen honors swedish mycologist responsible early advances understanding fungus cup fungi classified section genus ellipsoid vernacular names species include black felt cup black cup fungus description fruit body shaped diameter edges cup somewhat remain inward old external surface covered delicate brown hairs color surface underneath brownish black surface fruit body dry internal convex surface cup contains spore producing tissue layer known hymenium black stem thin long diameter tapering base like fruit body covered delicate brownish black hairs similar color outer surface cup dense coarse base stem black flesh thin gray edibility determined species microscopic features mass spores white spores hyaline translucent ellipsoid dimensions opinions divided distribution oil spores miller says spores typically oil end field guide mushrooms pacific_northwest says spores lack large oil drops claims numerous tiny oil drops walls spores thin horizontal ridges visible light stained blue spore bearing cells long wide end opens discharge spores interspersed numerous sterile dark brown cells called slightly enlarged end long wide similar species based external appearance similar species difficult distinguish external fruit body surface microscopic characters identify definitively spores smaller typically black cup fungus appears spring smaller spores whitish margins cup edges shorter stems smaller outer surface darker inner cup surface rudimentary stem habitat distribution typically found higher elevations coniferous forests growing wet twigs rotting woody debris near snow begins development underneath snow reaching maturity expose source suggests heat help melt path snow grows grow singly scattered clusters noted preference wood conifers north_america found canada fruits late early august common sierra nevada higher elevations distribution includes china japan
Plectania nannfeldtii