Aleuria aurantia (Pers.) Fuckel 1890
This ‘Orange Peel’ cup fungus is saprotrophic. It is found growing gregariously in wet weather conditions in hard, sandy soil. Its common name is derived from the observation that it resembles an orange peel tossed on the soil or gravely ground. It typically appears on disturbed soil (along woodland paths or roads) in late summer and autumn. The spore-bearing interior is a often shiny and always a brighter and darker orange than the paler exterior. There is no stem, but one can find white mycelia at the base of the cup. While not tasty, it is edible and looks great in salads. It can be confused with Caloscypha fulgens, which grows from wood and which stains green, especially along it margin. Aleuria aurantia is in the Pyrenemataceae family of the Pezizales Order of ascomycetes.
Aleuria aurantia