Alder Goblet - Ciboria caucus

Small pale brown cups on long slender stems, associated with male Alder catkins

Photograph on host plant; note substrate and associated plant species.  

The previous year's male Alder catkins, sometimes buried in leaf litter; possibly also willow and poplar catkins - see note below

February to April.

There is inconsistency in taxonomy regarding this species and others in the genus, and it may be best recorded as genus, wih a note regarding host.  Laessoe and Petersen (2019) call the species on Alder Ciboria amentacea, and Ciboria caucus as the species on Salix and Populus.  Other sources (e.g. First Nature) give Ciboria caucus as Alder Goblet, found on alder catkins and occasionally poplars and willows.  P. Thompson (Ascomycetes in Colour, 2013) calls the species Ciboria amentacea, and says it is found on alder catkins and grey willow catkins.  On he NBN (March 2026) C caucus and C amentacea are synonyms