Bleach cup

Appearance

Fruit bodies produced by this fungus are cup- or disc-shaped, up to 20 cm wide. The interior surface of the cup, the hymenium, is dark brown. It tends to become folded into vein-like markings, hence the specific epithet ''venosa''; these markings, however, may be absent in young individuals. The exterior surface is a whitish color, covered with pustules. There is a short stipe that anchors the cup to the ground. Although young fruiting bodies are cup-shaped, when they are 7 to 8 cm in diameter, the apothecia split and flatten down to lie in the soil. They are very brittle. The fruit bodies have been estimated to have a lifespan of up to 12 weeks. The flesh of the fungus has a bleach-like odor when it is broken.The spore are elliptical and smooth, with dimensions of 21–24 by 12–14 µm. The asci , are 370–400 by 18–20 µm, while the paraphyses are stout and club-shaped, with tips that are up to 12 µm wide.

Naming

Species that may resemble ''Disciotis venosa'' include the "thick cup", species ''Discina perlata'' , as well as several species of ''Peziza''. ''Peziza'' species generally have thinner flesh than ''D. venosa'', and will turn a dark blue color if a drop of iodine solution is placed on it. Additionally, the tips of asci in ''Peziza'' species will stain blue with iodine, a feature that can be observed with a light microscope. Another lookalike, ''Discina ancilis'', has an inner cup surface that is folded, wrinkled, or sometimes smooth, rather than veined. The outer cup surface has small tufts of hairs arranged in clumps.

Distribution

This fungus is typically found growing on the ground among mossy or needle-covered soil among conifers; they are often difficult to notice because their brown color typically blends into the background. They have been noted to prefer to grow on banks or slopes rather than flat areas. This species is also referred to as a "snowbank mushroom" because fruit bodies typically appear around the edges of melting snowbanks. In Europe, the fungus typically fruits from March to May.

''Disciotis venosa'' is found in North America and Europe . It also occurs in Turkey, where it is considered critically endangered.

Habitat

This fungus is typically found growing on the ground among mossy or needle-covered soil among conifers; they are often difficult to notice because their brown color typically blends into the background. They have been noted to prefer to grow on banks or slopes rather than flat areas. This species is also referred to as a "snowbank mushroom" because fruit bodies typically appear around the edges of melting snowbanks. In Europe, the fungus typically fruits from March to May.

''Disciotis venosa'' is found in North America and Europe . It also occurs in Turkey, where it is considered critically endangered.