Species details
Bay cup
Legaliana badia
Conditional / expert preparation
Photo: Andrey Gaverdovsky · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · License
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Description
A dark-brown to olive-brown cup fungus without a distinct stem, growing on acidic woodland soils.
Identification features
Fruitbody about 2–8 cm wide, deeply cup-shaped with a high rim when young and more expanded later. The inner surface is smooth, dark brown with possible purplish or olive tones. Flesh is watery, waxy and very brittle.
Identification checklist
Check the dark-brown deep cup shape, almost absent stem and acidic woodland habitat. Microscopy is important for reliable identification.
How to separate similar species
Gobe.si notes that Legaliana, Peziza and related cup fungi are difficult to separate by appearance and are reliably identified mainly microscopically. AI should therefore not show high confidence.
Habitat
Grows from late spring to autumn in deciduous, coniferous and mixed woodland on acidic soils, singly or in small groups.
Fruiting period
June, July, August, September, October
Similar species
- Yellow-milking cup (Paragalactinia succosa)
- Peziza species
- Legaliana species