Devil’s Urn (Urnula craterium)

This early spring fungi has been popping up all over our woods lately! Devil’s Urn is a type of cup fungus in the Sarcosomataceae family, known for its dark, goblet-shaped fruiting body that resembles a small charred urn—hence the name.

It often appears on decaying hardwood, especially oak, during the cool, damp months of early spring. If you’re lucky, you might find one cradling a tiny pool of rainwater inside, like a forest wishing well.

While it's not a common edible, it is considered edible when young and tender. But perhaps more intriguing is the folklore—some say these urn-shaped fungi were believed to trap dark spirits or symbolize the ashes of winter, making way for spring’s renewal. Whether or not you believe in forest myths, spotting one feels like a little secret gift from the woods.