Identification
Keep your eyes peeled for a delicate, chestnut-brown goblet rising from the damp leaf litter. The cup (apothecium) of *Dumontinia tuberosa* is typically 10–30mm wide, starting as a deep bowl and flattening into a wavy-edged disc as it matures. Its most defining field mark, however, is hidden: the cup is supported by a remarkably long, slender, dark-brown stem (stipe) that can reach up to 10cm in length. To distinguish it from similar-looking *Sclerotinia* species, you must carefully excavate the base. You will find the stem is physically fused to a hard, black, bean-shaped lump called a sclerotium. If there is no Wood Anemone nearby and no black "bean" at the root, you’re likely looking at a different cup fungus.
Habitat & Range
This species is a vernal specialist of ancient deciduous woodlands across Europe and North America. It is strictly host-specific, meaning you will only find it where Wood Anemones (*Anemone nemorosa*) or their close relatives thrive. Look for it in damp, shaded hollows and sloping woodlands during the first warm breaths of spring, usually between March and May.
Behaviour
The Anemone Cup is a master of synchronization. It fruits precisely when its host is in bloom, utilizing the spring breezes to disperse its spores just as the forest canopy begins to close. Unlike many fungi that form broad networks, this species is a solitary stalker; you’ll often find just one or two cups emerging near a patch of anemones, appearing as if they are growing directly out of the soil.
Diet
*Dumontinia tuberosa* is a necrotrophic parasite. It doesn't forage for decaying organic matter; instead, its mycelium aggressively infiltrates the underground rhizomes of the Wood Anemone. It leeches nutrients directly from the living plant, eventually killing the localized tissue to fuel its own reproductive cycle.
Fascinating Fact
The black "bean" at the base of the stem is actually a fungal "mummy." The fungus completely consumes the interior of the anemone’s rhizome and replaces the plant tissue with its own dense, protective mycelium, creating a survival pod that can lie dormant in the soil for several years if conditions aren't right for fruiting!