Pezizaceae

 ( Ascomycota Families ) 

The Pezizaceae (commonly referred to as cup fungi) are a family of fungus in the Ascomycota which produce that tend to grow in the shape of a "cup". Spores are formed on the inner surface of the fruit body (ascoma). The cup shape typically serves to focus raindrops into splashing spores out of the cup. Additionally, the curvature enables wind currents to blow the spores out in a different manner than in most agaricales and boletales.

Cup fungi grow in peculiar shapes, frequently resembling cups or saucers. For example, the orange peel fungus ( Aleuria aurantia) resembles a discarded orange rind. According to one 2008 estimate, the family contains 31 genera and 230 species.