Bulgaria inquinans

Scientific name:  Bulgaria inquinans (Pers.) Fr.
Derivation of name:  Inquinans means "polluting" or
"staining" perhaps in reference to the dark color of this
fungus.
Synonyms: Peziza inquinans Pers., Phaeobulgaria
inquinans (Pers.) Nannf. 
Common name(s):  Black jelly drops; Poor man's
licorice
Phylum:   Ascomycota
Order:   Helotiales
Family:   Bulgariaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; solitary to
clustered on decaying hardwoods, especially oak;
summer through fall.  
Dimensions: 1-4 cm wide, about as high; rounded to
shallow cup-shaped, becoming flat topped at maturity.   
Sterile outer surface:  Blackish-brown to brown and
rough.
Fertile inner surface:  Black, smooth, and shiny.
Edibility: Unknown  
Comments: With age, the fruit bodies can become flabby
and gelatinous, resembling jelly fungi. However, unlike
jelly fungi, this fungus bears its spores in asci, not on
basidia.

More information at MushroomExpert.com:



Figure 1. Fallen white oak (Quercus alba) log with blackish
fruit bodies of Bulgaria inquinans near the ground.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 2. Bulgaria inquinans at a different location on the
same log as pictured in Figure 1. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 3. The fruit body of Bulgaria inquinans is not initially
flat-topped. When young, the fruit body is rounded or top-
shaped. The fruit body flattens as the black fertile portion
enlarges and matures. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 4. The fertile surface of mature specimens is black,
smooth and often shiny. The outer sterile surface is brown to
blackish-brown and rough. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 5. Typical specimens of Bulgaria inquinans on wood.
Photo © William Roody.