Acroscyphus is a monotypic genus represented by A. sphaerophoroides LEV. (1864) which is known from America (Mexico, Peru, Patagonia) and also from Asia (Himalaya, Yunnan, Japan).
In Japan, it was collected at first by F. FUJIKAWA in the summer of 1932 on Mt. Daisetsu in Central Hokkaido, and identified by Y. ASAHINA. In the summer of 1935, the writer and FUJIKAWA could collect many specimens on Mt. Tomuraushi near Mt. Daisetsu. The first record of the occurrence of this species in Honsyu, the main island of Japan, was made by S. KUROKAWA based on the specimens collected by himself in the summer of 1952 on the ridge between Mt. Mitsudake and Mt. Noguchigoro, Nagano Prefecture. In the summer of 1954, ASAHINA could collect several specimens on Mt. Kiso-Ontake. KUROKAWA got sterile specimen on Mt. Yatsu, Nagano Prefecture, in the summer of 1958. In the summer of 1964, Y. JIMZENJI collected a specimens on the rock near the top of Mt. Kinbu.
The substratum of the Japanese specimens is always rock, while the Peruvian and Mexican specimens are said growing on soil or on trees. The specimens collected in Patagonia, Yunnan, and Himalaya are all saxicolous.