Species details
Orange peel fungus
Aleuria aurantia
Traditionally edible
Photo: moranat · CC0 · Photo source · License
Description
A very distinctive orange cup fungus, often on bare, compacted or disturbed ground and resembling pieces of orange peel.
Identification features
Fruitbodies are cup-shaped to irregularly spread and lack a distinct stem. The inner fertile surface is vivid orange, while the outside is paler and finely rough.
Identification checklist
Check the vivid orange cup shape without a distinct stem and the paler outer surface. Small red-orange cup fungi may require microscopy for species-level identification.
How to separate similar species
Other orange or red cup fungi can look similar. Margin hairs, size and microscopic characters help separate them.
Habitat
Often grows in groups on bare soil beside woodland tracks, roads, banks and other disturbed places from summer to autumn.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October, November
Similar species
- Aleuria boudieri
- Scutellinia species
- Apricot jelly (Guepinia helvelloides)