Discina ancilis

Discina ancilis
Fruit bodies found in eastern Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou Co., California
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Discinaceae
Genus:	Discina
Species:	D. ancilis
Binomial name
Discina ancilis (Pers.) Sacc. (1889)
Synonyms
List Peziza ancilisPers. (1822) Aleuria ancilis(Pers.) Gillet (1879) Acetabula ancilis(Pers.) Lambotte (1880) Helvella ancilis(Pers.) Quél. (1886) Gyromitra ancilis(Pers.) Kreisel (1984) Peziza perlata Fr. (1822) Discina perlata(Fr.) Fr. (1849) Peziza repanda var. perlata(Fr.) Quél. (1886) Gyromitra perlata(Fr.) Harmaja (1969)

Discina ancilis Mycological characteristics
	Smooth hymenium
	Cap is umbilicate
	Hymenium is decurrent
	Stipe is bare
	Spore print is brown
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is not recommended or edible

Discina ancilis, commonly known as pig's ears ^{[1] [2] [3]} is a brown to tannish, wrinkled, cup- or ear-shaped fungus, sometimes with short, stout stalk.

Taxonomy

The spores of D. ancilis are quite similar to those of mushrooms in the genus Gyromitra , so some mycologists classify it there.^{[ citation needed ]}

Description

The cup measures 2–10 centimetres (3⁄4–4 inches) wide, ^[4] with a disc-like, whitish exterior, and a dark brown to tan interior. The cup is often wrinkled to convoluted, with the edges turned downward. The flesh is brittle. ^[5] The stipe (when present) is up to 1 cm (3⁄8 in) long and 3 cm thick; it is whitish to brownish in color. ^[5]

Microscopic characteristics

The spores are 25–35 x 11–16  μm, spindle shaped, minutely roughened, with a large central oil drop and two smaller ones at each end. ^[5]

Similar species

Disciotis venosa is more deeply veined, and has smooth spores; it is typically found in deciduous woods. Other similar species of Discina must be differentiated microscopically. Peziza repanda is also similar. ^[4] In the Pacific Northwest, D. leucoxantha and D. olympiana are similar. ^[6] It also resembles Gyromitra melaleucoides . ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

It is found singularly or in groups, on humus or rotten wood in coniferous areas; near melting snowbanks in western mountains. It is found in temperate areas of North America. ^[6] It comes into fruiting from May–July.

Edibility

It is considered edible by some authors, ^[7] but not others; ^[8] it can be confused with other potentially toxic species. ^[7] It should be cooked before consumption. ^[4]

References

1. "Pig's Ears (Gyromitra ancilis)". Ninaturalist.nz. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
2. "Discina ancilis (Pers.) Sacc. 1889". EOL. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
3. "Discina perlata". EOL. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
4. Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 404–405. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
5. Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp. 798–99. ISBN   978-0-89815-170-1.
6. Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 289. ISBN   978-0-88192-935-5.
7. Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuides. p. 506. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
8. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America . Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p.  364. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.

• Lincoff, GH National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. Chanticleer Press, Inc. 1981 p. 331 ISBN   978-0-394-51992-0