Ciboria rufofusca

A small ascomycete barely exceeding 1 cm, saprotrophic on old cones of Abies species. Its specialized habitat, cup-shaped apothecium when young expanding and flattening at maturity, and long stipe inserted deep into the substrate make it unmistakable.

It fruits from late winter to early spring in large colonies, occasionally carpeting the forest floor in some areas. It is locally common where suitable hosts exist, yet absent across wide territories lacking firs.

The specimens studied here originate from two collections: one in Villanúa (Huesca) in early May on cones of Abies alba; the other collected in late April 2025 in Zalduondo (Álava) on cones of Abies pinsapo, representing the first record for the Basque Country.