Purple Jellydisc - Ascocoryne sarcoides

Description

This species occurs in 2 forms.  The asexual form (anamorph) looks like clusters of small pale to dark purple or wine-red clubs or fingers, which produce conidia.  The texture is firm and gelatinous, and en masse they can appear brain-like.  In its sexual form (teleomorph), it produces larger gelatinous discs or cups up to 1.5cm, which are smooth on the inner, fertile side and slightly downy outside; it may have a short or vague stem.   This form produces the ascospores.  The two forms often appear together.

Similar Species

Ascocoryne cylichnium cannot reliably be separated from the sexual state of A sarcoides; microscopic examination of spores is needed

Identification difficulty

asexual sexual/microscopy

Recording advice

Photograph on host plant; note substrate and associated tree species, and wheterh you are recording sexual or asexual form, or both.  The sexual state (disc/cup shaped fruitbodies) cannot reliably be identifed in the field; microscopic examination of spores is needed. 

Habitat

Decaying wood from deciduous trees

When to see it

Autumn

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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Species profile

Common names
Purple Jellydisc
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Helotiales
Family:
Gelatinodiscaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
85
First record:
23/10/2004 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
24/01/2026 (Graves, Hazel)

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