### Identification Commonly known as the Leathery Goblet, *Cymatoderma elegans* is a masterpiece of fungal architecture. It forms a distinct funnel or fan shape (infundibuliform), reaching up to 15cm in diameter. Look for its striking "pleated" appearance; the underside (hymenium) is covered in deep, radiating longitudinal ridges or folds called costae, which look like a ruffled skirt. The upper surface is typically velvety and zoned with shades of cream, buff, and cinnamon-brown. Unlike the thin, papery *Stereum* species, *C. elegans* is remarkably tough and leathery—it won’t snap easily between your fingers.
### Habitat & Range This species is a specialist of the tropics and subtropics, most frequently encountered in the wet sclerophyll forests and rainforests of the Indo-Pacific region, including Northern Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa. You’ll find it emerging from the sides of decaying hardwood logs or fallen branches in damp, shaded gullies. It thrives in high-humidity environments where the air remains still and moist.
### Behaviour While many mushrooms vanish within days, *C. elegans* is a persistent fruiting body. It can remain in the forest for months, its leathery texture resisting decay and insect predation. An observer will notice that after heavy rain, the fungus "reanimates," becoming pliable and vibrant, only to turn stiff and woody during dry spells. It doesn't "move," but it is a master of endurance, slowly releasing spores from its ridged underside over a prolonged period.
### Diet As a saprotrophic fungus, *C. elegans* is a vital forest recycler. It specializes in "white rot," meaning it possesses the unique biochemical toolkit to break down lignin—the "glue" that makes wood tough. By digesting dead cellulose and lignin, it returns essential nutrients to the rainforest soil, clearing the way for new growth.
### Fascinating Fact The genus name *Cymatoderma* literally translates to "wavy skin" (from the Greek *kyma*), but the most surprising thing about this fungus is its resilience: specimens collected by Victorian-era naturalists over 100 years ago still retain their intricate, ruffled structure in museum drawers today, proving that its "leathery" moniker is no exaggeration!