Description Ascocoryne sarcoides

this fungus characterized fruiting body (technically apothecia) pinkish-purple color , more or less gelatinous consistency. apothecia, typically 0.5 1.5 centimetres (0.2 0.6 in) in diameter, start spherical shape, flatten out become shallowly cup-shaped wavy edge , smooth upper surface. lower surface may covered small particles (granular), , apothecia either attached directly growing surface (sessile), or have rudimentary stem. apothecia accompanied conidial form, non-sexual spores generated. conidial form consists of sporodochia, cushion-like asexual fruiting body mass consisting of short conidiophores (specialized stalks bear conidia). sporodochia similar in color , consistency apothecia variable in shape, typically club-, spoon-, or tongue-shaped, , bearing minute, cylindrical, straight or curved conidia. fungus matures , apothecia enlarge , press against each other, apothecia coalesce form gelatinous, irregular mass. flesh, similar appearance of fungus, pinkish-purple , gelatinous. odor , taste of a. sarcoides not distinctive. ascocoryne sarcoides not considered edible.

microscopic features

the spores translucent (hyaline), smooth, have ellipsoid shape, dimensions of 12–16 3–5 µm. spores contain 1 or 2 oil droplets. imperfect (conidial) form of fungus produces smooth, hyaline spores 3–3.5 1–2 µm. asci – sexual spore-bearing cells – have cylindrical shape, dimensions of 115–125 8–10 µm. paraphyses (sterile filamentous cells interspersed among asci) cylindrical swollen tips, , few branches.

similar species

ascocoryne cylichnium, small , gelatinous violet-colored species, has apothecia more cup-shaped, , has larger spores—20–24 5.5–6 µm. because of resemblance jelly fungi, a. sarcoides has been mistaken basidiomycete species auricularia auricula , tremella foliacea. t. foliacea larger, brown, , leafy in appearance. auricularia auricula larger, typically brown, disc- or ear-shaped, ribbed undersurface. microscopically, tremella foliacea , auricularia auricula distinguished a. sarcoides presence of basidia (rather asci).