Champagne Cup Mushroom
This species can be commonly found in Khao Sok National Park. During routine patrols by park rangers, a significant number of these mushrooms were observed, thriving due to the park's humid evergreen forest environment, which is conducive to their growth. They are typically found on decaying logs or in soil rich with decomposing leaf litter.
Scientific Name: Cookeina sulcipes (Bk.) Kuntze
Family: Sarcoscyphaceae
Morphological Characteristics
Cap: The cap is cup- or cone-shaped, with a diameter of 10-35 mm and a depth of 10-20 mm. The color ranges from red to orange, with the inside being darker than the outside. The color gradually fades towards the tip of the stem. The surface is smooth, with short hairs surrounding the edge of the cap, arranged in about 2-3 rows.
Stem: The stem is cylindrical, 15-38 mm in length and 1-3 mm in diameter, and is entirely white. The stem is attached centrally to the cap and is smooth, with hairs covering the entire stem.
Habitat
This mushroom grows on decaying wood, either in groups or individually.
Ecological Role
The Champagne Cup Mushroom acts as a decomposer in the ecosystem, playing a crucial role in the recycling of nutrients in the soil.
Acknowledgment: Thanks to the Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office and the Southern Border Research and Development Institute for providing this information.
