Devil'S Urn
ExploreFungi
Devil'S Urn
urnula craterium
The Devil's Urn (Urnula craterium) is a fascinating early spring fungus easily recognized by its distinctive, dark, cup-like appearance. Resembling a charred, leathery goblet sprouting from the forest floor, it is often one of the first macrofungi to emerge after the snow melts. For avid mushroom foragers, spotting a Devil's Urn is a moment of excitement, as it acts as a classic phenological indicator that the prized morel mushroom season is just around the corner. Ecologically, this fungus lives a double life. It begins as a weak parasite on living oak trees, causing a disease known as Strumella canker, before transitioning into a saprobe that feeds on the dead, decaying hardwood. Its striking appearance and unique life cycle make it a captivating find for nature enthusiasts exploring early spring woodlands.
Habitat: Found in temperate hardwood forests, particularly on or near decaying oak logs, buried branches, and fallen timber.
Appearance
The Devil's Urn forms a deep, cup-shaped or urn-like fruiting body that typically measures 4 to 8 centimeters in height and 3 to 4 centimeters wide. Its exterior is dark brownish-black with a slightly fuzzy or scaly texture, while the spore-bearing interior surface is smooth and jet black. As the fungus matures, the rim of the cup often splits, tearing into ragged, star-like margins. It is attached to the substrate by a short, tough, and sometimes buried stalk, giving it the appearance of a dark chalice resting directly on the leaf litter.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassPezizomycetesOrderPezizalesFamilySarcosomataceaeGenusUrnula
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite its eerie name and black, charred appearance, the fungus is entirely harmless to humans, though it is considered inedible due to its tough, leathery texture.
Foraging enthusiasts often affectionately call the Devil's Urn a 'morel indicator' because its appearance signals that prized morel mushrooms will soon begin to fruit.
If you gently blow on a mature Devil's Urn, the change in air flow can trigger the fungus to release a visible, smoke-like puff of spores.
It causes a disease called Strumella canker in living oak trees, which produces a distinctive target-shaped wound on the tree's bark.
Special abilities
Ability
Spore Puffing
When exposed to a sudden change in air pressure or a gust of wind, the mature cup can forcibly eject its spores in a visible cloud resembling smoke.
Ability
Cryotolerance
Fruiting in early spring, this tough fungus can survive sudden frosts and freezes, pausing its growth until temperatures rise again.
Ability
Biphasic Lifestyle
It seamlessly switches between a parasitic phase on living trees to a saprobic phase decomposing the very same wood once it dies.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 4-8 cm
- Weight
- 0.005-0.015 kg
- Lifespan
- 1-10 years
Diet & Feeding
The Devil's Urn extracts nutrients by breaking down the complex lignins and celluloses of dead or dying hardwood trees.
Age differences: Transitions from a weak parasite on living oaks to a saprobe decomposing dead wood.
Primary Foods
- Decaying oak wood
- Fallen hardwood branches
- Buried hardwood logs
Foraging Method
- Mycelial Expansion
Ecological connections
eaten by
Springtails
Collembola
Serves as a host and food source for tiny early spring mycophagous arthropods.
parasite
White Oak
Quercus alba
Parasitizes and later decomposes the wood of specific hardwood trees.
indicator for
Yellow Morel
Morchella esculenta
Shares the same microhabitat and early spring fruiting triggers, acting as an indicator species for foragers.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Devil'S Urn?
4-8 cm
How much does Devil'S Urn weigh?
0.005-0.015 kg
How long does Devil'S Urn live?
1-10 years
What does Devil'S Urn eat?
The Devil's Urn extracts nutrients by breaking down the complex lignins and celluloses of dead or dying hardwood trees.
Where is Devil'S Urn usually found?
Found in temperate hardwood forests, particularly on or near decaying oak logs, buried branches, and fallen timber.
How does Devil'S Urn hunt?
Mycelial Expansion
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