Peziza phyllogena, also known as the Early Spring Cup, is a large, irregular saucer-shaped fungus that ranges in colour from reddish brown to olive or yellowish brown. It often appears in small, trooping groups on soil or woody debris under hardwoods or conifers, with some specimens contorted or fused together. Fruiting in spring and early summer, it is commonly found during morel season and can be mistaken for other brown cup fungi.

Fruiting body upper (hymenial) surface is reddish brown to olive or yellowish brown and smooth. The outer (lower) surface is similar in colour, sometimes with more purplish tones, and may appear finely granular or mealy, especially near the margin. The fruit body is shallowly cup-shaped, often compressed, lobed, or irregular, with a thin, sharp margin that turns black when dry. It is sessile, attached at a narrow central point. The flesh is thin, brittle, and brown to whitish. Spore print white.

Microscopic Features: Spores measure 17–22 x 7–10 µm including ornamentation. They are subfusiform to fusiform at maturity. Initially smooth, they soon become verruculose to verrucose with fine isolated warts measuring 0.25–0.5 µm in height. The spores often develop broad, flattened apical caps and are typically 1- or 2-guttulate, especially during development.

Synonyms: Phylloscypha phyllogena and Peziza badioconfusa are synonyms.

Phylloscypha phyllogena on the the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.