Tiny Goblet Shaped for ID Help Please

[Lancashire Lad]

Found great numbers of these today, all growing amongst very shallow soil/moss covering of a stony pathway on an ex-industrial site.

All appeared to be attached to very small pieces of extremely well rotted (soft/mushy) twigs.

The only trees on the site are Birch/Alder

The site is unusual for the area, with much limestone rubble / cinders & other waste materials from the industrial processes of years gone by.

Largest fruitbodies no more than 10mm diameter, largest stipes approximately 10mm in length. - but very few at that size. Most of the hundreds found averaged only half as big.



They don't seem to match anything in the books I have, so any help towards ID much appreciated.

Regards,
Mike.

[CapAndBracket]

Tempted to suggest Ciboria caucus as a posibillity.

Cheers J.P.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

Tempted to suggest Ciboria caucus as a posibillity.

Cheers J.P.

That would be my guess given the presence of Alder. The appearance is a perfect match, and I don't know any other species like that. The rotten twigs are presumably rotten catkins. As to whether or not it should be called Ciboria amentacea ...

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I think you will be correct. The substrate to which they were attached would definitely favour rotting catkins rather than rotting twigs, but the thought never occured to me at the time.

Regards,
Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Revisited the site today, took some better photos, and can confirm that they are indeed growing on rotting Alder catkins amongst the moss.

.

Definitely Alder Goblet - Ciboria caucus.

Regards,
Mike.