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Gray Urn Fungi
Urnula craterium

This fungi is actually a parasite. It causes a canker in oaks, hickories, beech, basswood and other hardwoods. When the infected branches fall to the ground, it then fruits.

Although this is called “gray urn” it’s definitely more of a brownish-black color.

Alternate Names: Devil's Urn
Size: 3-10 cm tall
Family: Sarcosomataceae 
Habitat: Fruits on decaying hardwood (logs, sticks, limbs, stumps).
Identification: More of a brownish-black than gray color, the fruiting body is shaped like a deep urn, which open bigger as the fungi ages.
All text and photos copyright © 2022 Middle Way Nature Reserve, unless noted.
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