Humaria hemisphaerica

[ Ascomycetes > Pezizales > Pyrenemataceae > Humaria . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Here is a tiny cup fungus that is fairly easily identified (for a change). Humaria hemisphaerica reaches a width of 2 or 3 cm. It has a whitish or pale bluish upper surface, and a brown outer surface that is entirely covered with stiff, brown hairs. Most other "eyelash cups" are either brightly colored, or are smaller (or appear only in limited areas like burn sites)--but species of Jafnea, in eastern North America, are superficially similar; see the key to cup fungi for help separating these mushrooms.

Humaria hemisphaerica is widely distributed, growing on soil and, less frequently, on well rotted wood.

Edibility is not known for Humaria hemisphaerica, but it is much too small to consider for the table, anyway.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on well-decayed wood or on the ground; growing alone or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed in North America.

Fruiting Body: Goblet shaped when young, becoming more broadly cup-shaped and reaching widths of 2-3 cm when mature; upper surface white or pale bluish, fairly smooth; undersurface densely hairy with prominent hairs that extend above the margin of the cup, brown; without a stem; odor none; flesh brownish or pale, brittle.

Microscopic Features: Spores 20-24 x 10-12 µ; finely warted; elliptical; usually with two oil droplets that break up at maturity. Asci eight-spored; up to 325 x 18 µ. Hairs brown in KOH, septate.

Patella albida and Humaria hemispherica (without the a) are synonyms.

REFERENCES: (Wiggers, 1780) Fuckel, 1869. (Seaver, 1928; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Arora, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006.) Herb. Kuo 06160303, 10030402.

Further Online Information:

Humaria hemisphaerica at Roger's Mushrooms
Humaria hemisphaerica at Fungi of Poland

Septate Hairs

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, January). Humaria hemisphaerica. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/humaria_hemisphaerica.html.