Porodisculus pendulus

Scientific name:   Porodisculus pendulus (Fr.) Murrill
Derivation of name:  Porodisculus is the diminutive of
Porodiscus which means "a little, poroid disk"; pendulus means
"hanging down."
Synonyms:  Polyporus pocula (Schw.) Berk. & Curt.; Peziza
pendula Schw.
Common name(s):  Pendulous-disc polypore.
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Polyporaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; solitary but
occurring in large numbers on freshly dead deciduous branches
and logging slash. 
Dimensions: Fruitbodies 1-5 mm wide, pendent from a stalk-
like base 3-5 mm long; August through October.   
Upper surface: Whitish to brown; hairy.
Pore surface: Whitish or brownish; pores minute, 8-10 per mm.
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: This is the smallest polypore species. The name
Peziza pendula Schw. was published in 1822 and is a name
reflective of an ascomycete cup fungus!

    
Figure 1. Porodisculus pendulus on a small twig. Note the
pendulous habit and stalk-like base. Photo © Gary
Emberger.


Figure 2. The twig in Figure 1 is turned to reveal the
cup-like fruitbodies. Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 3. By getting really close, you can see the
the pore surface. Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 4. This is a small polypore, not even 3 mm wide.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

 

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