[upthetump]

hi all

i have "mushrooms" that are open mouthed like sea anemones and they puff out a white powder whenever i go near them. they are on cardboard in my greenhouse and there are 2 banks of them. its almost like looking at a coral reef except they are on land (well, cardboard) and a brown colour. any ideas what they are and more important are they dangerous?

[sunshineband]

They sound like cup fungi from your description, upthetump. They are not dangerous but not edible either 
http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/peziza-badia.php

Have a look further down the page as the mature cups are brown not orangey. I think it may be this Bay Cup, as the clue is in the puffs of spores being released.

Hope that helps a bit 

[upthetump]

thanks for that, the picture at the bottom is pretty close to what i have. it is quite a surreal sight watching these things open and close and puff out the spores. ill remove them next time i go up. cheers