Otidea alutacea, commonly known as the brown clustered ear cup,[1] is a species of apothecial fungus belonging to the family Pyronemataceae. This European species appears as buff coloured deep cups, often split down one side, up to 6 cm tall, on soil in woodland. It is inedible.[2]

Otidea alutacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
O. alutacea
Binomial name
Otidea alutacea
Pers., 1801

The cup is 3–6 cm tall and 2–4 cm wide, normally split on one side to the base, with a wavy margin, brown outside and light brown inside.[3] The spores are colorless.[3]

Similar species include Otidea onotica and Guepinia helvelloides.[3]

edit
Otidea alutacea
 Smooth hymenium
 No distinct cap
 Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
 Lacks a stipe
 Ecology is mycorrhizal
 Edibility is unknown

References

edit
  1. ^ Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (Second ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5.
  2. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 370. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  3. ^ a b c Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 403–404. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.