One of the smaller species of Cyathus, C. helenae produces a number of chemically unique diterpenoid molecules known as cyathins.

[3] The outer surface of the peridium, the ectoperidium, is pale brown to grey in color, and covered with clusters of fungal hyphae that resemble hairs.

[3] Peridioles are attached to the fruit body by a funiculus, a structure of hyphae that is differentiated into three regions: the basal piece, which attaches it to the inner wall of the peridium, the middle piece, and an upper sheath, called the purse, connected to the lower surface of the peridiole.

[2] The species was initially described by mycologist Harold J. Brodie in 1966, who collected it from Rocky Mountain Park in Alberta, Canada at an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,100 m).

It was found growing among the small flat stones of the scree, often attached to rotted or dried remains of alpine plants.

[7] The life cycle of Cyathus helenae contains both haploid and diploid stages, typical of taxa in the basidiomycetes that can reproduce both asexually (via vegetative spores), or sexually (with meiosis).

When two homokaryotic hyphae of different mating compatibility groups fuse with one another, they form a dikaryotic mycelia in a process called plasmogamy.

The peridioles, followed by the highly adhesive funicular cord and basal hapteron, may hit a nearby plant stem or stick.

[9] Cyathus helenae produces a series of diterpenoid chemical compounds known as cyathins, which have antibiotic properties against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.