Green Elfcup
ExploreFungi
Green Elfcup
Chlorociboria aeruginascens
The Green Elfcup is a tiny, green mushroom that looks like a little cup! It loves to grow on decaying wood and is a fun find in the forest.
Habitat: Decaying wood in forests
Appearance
The Green Elfcup is a tiny, cup-shaped mushroom, often appearing as a thin, vibrant turquoise-green stain on dead wood. Its small, disc-like caps have a slightly inrolled margin, making it look like a miniature, jewel-toned adornment on logs.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassLeotiomycetesOrderHelotialesFamilyChlorociboriaceaeGenusChlorociboria
Category
FungiRarity
Epic
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
Ancient craftspeople used wood stained by this fungus to make beautiful artistic inlays.
Imagine a mushroom that doesn't just grow on wood, but actually *paints* it from the inside!
It's so small, you might think it's just moss, but look closer for its vibrant green cup!
This tiny fungus turns wood a vivid blue-green, even after the mushroom is gone!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Stainer
Green Elfcup can stain wood a striking blue-green because it produces a special pigment, helping it recycle nutrients from decaying trees.
Ability
Nutrient Recycler
Green Elfcup can digest tough wood because it releases enzymes, which helps clean up the forest floor by breaking down old trees.
Ability
Durable Decorator
Green Elfcup has a leathery texture that helps it survive longer on logs, slowly transforming dead wood into artistic patterns.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 0.2-1 cm
- Edibility
- inedible
- Cap Diameter
- 0.5-2 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Fall
- Spore Color
- White
Ecological connections
depends on
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Green Elfcup depends on dead branches of Fagus grandifolia for nutrients.
depends on
White Oak
Quercus alba
This fungus needs decaying wood from Quercus alba to grow and reproduce.
depends on
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Chlorociboria aeruginascens frequently colonizes fallen logs of Betula papyrifera.
Traits
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Glowing
Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence.
Also known as
Elfcup FungusGreen Cup Fungus
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Green Elfcup?
0.2-1 cm
Is Green Elfcup edible?
inedible
How big is Green Elfcup?
0.5-2 cm
Where is Green Elfcup usually found?
Decaying wood in forests
What does Green Elfcup grow on?
wood
When is Green Elfcup in season?
Fall
What color are Green Elfcup spores?
White
Snap Map
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