Discina perlata (Fries) Fries
Summa Veg. Scand. Sect. Post.: 348. 1849.

Common Name: Pigs Ears

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body sessile to short-stipitate, 1.5-9.0 cm broad, at first shallow-cupulate, in age centrally depressed, arched towards the margin, the latter conspicuously wavy; hymenial surface wrinkled to deeply furrowed, yellowish-brown to reddish-brown; exterior surface minutely hairy, whitish when fresh, drying pinkish-brown, wrinkled and furrowed like the hymenial surface; context firm, brittle, white, unchanging, up to 3.0 mm thick; odor not distinctive; taste mild.

• Spores

  Spores 28-34 x 12-16 µm excluding apiculate ends, the latter visible only at maturity and when mounted in water; spores ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, hyaline, with one large central and several smaller oil droplets; spores whitish in deposit.

• Habitat

  Solitary, gregarious, or in small clusters on needle-covered soil or near rotting wood of montane conifers; known mostly from the Sierra Nevada; fruiting from spring to early summer; common.

• Edibility

  Edible, and good according to the literature.

• Comments

  "Pigs Ear" aptly describes the shape of this snowbank Ascomycete, a spreading, furrowed, wavy-margined cup. It is frequently encountered by Sierra morel hunters but rarely collected for the table despite its edibility. In addition to Discina perlata, two other Discina species may occur in California, D. macrospora and D. apiculata. Unfortunately these can only be distinguished from Discina perlata with a microscope, the spores of D. macrosopora, as the species name suggests, being larger, while those of D. apiculata having apiculi that are rounded. Also similar to Discina perlata, but uncommon, is Disciotis venosa. This morel relative differs from Discina perlata in having a more erect cup-like form at maturity, a hymenial surface with distinctly raised wrinkles, and a slight bleach-like odor.

• References

  Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1984). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 1: Ascomycetes. Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland. 310 p.
  Medardi, G. (2006). Ascomiceti d'Italia. Centro Studi Micologici: Trento. 454 p.
  Weber, N.S. (1988). A Morel Hunter's companion. Two Penninsula Press: Lansing, MI. 288 p.
  Seaver, F.J. (1978). The North American Cup-Fungi (Operculates). Lubrecht & Cramer: Moncticello, N.Y. 377 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Hugh Smith: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Kinoko-ya: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Na Grzyby: Discina perlata (D & CP)
  • Société Mycologique de Strasbourg: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Michael W. Beug: Discina perlata (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Discina perlata (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 798 (D & P)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (v. 1): sp. 31 (D, I, & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 331 (D), pl. 618 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 200 (D), p. 201 (CP)
  • Miller: sp. 407 (D & CP)
  • Orr & Orr: p. 25 (D)
  • Phillips: p. 304 (D & CP)
  • Smith (1975): sp. 3 (D & CP)
  • Tylutki (1979): p. 68 (D & P)
  • Weber: p. 164 (D)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)