CLASSIFICATION
(SOURCE: NCBI database)

KINGDOM: Fungi
DIVISION: Ascomycota
CLASS: Pezizomycetes
ORDER: Pezizales
FAMILY: Pezizaceae

CUP FUNGI

Cup fungi such as the Devil's Urn, Urnula craterium, shown below, are distinguished from other fungi by their spores being formed on the inner surface of a cup-shaped fruiting body. The cup shape encourages raindrops to splash spores from the cup, and wind currents to blow them out.

Urnula craterium, image by Karen Wise of Mississippi

The fruiting bodies usually bear no stalk, and are attached directly to whatever they're growing on.

Cup fungi typically are most abundant during cool, early spring weather, and again in the fall.

As of 2008, about 230 species were recognized as members of the Cup Fungus Family (PM Kirk et al, 2008).