Sarcoscyphaceae

Abstract

This genus has a wide distribution throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Usually the species grow in dense caespitose clusters, occasionally singly on the soil or on decaying wood of various kinds. Fruit bodies black or blackish, rather thick and very gelatinous, stipitate or sessile, externally these may be covered with hairs or may be tomentose; when dry the fruit bodies become very tough and corky, reconstituting when moist; hymenium partly or entirely covers the upper surface and forms a disc, light in colour; the entire fruit body becomes strongly wrinkled when dry; asci cylindrical or subcylindrical, eight-spored; spores ellipsoid or subellipsoid, hyaline or sub-hyaline; paraphyses slender.