Black Bulgar

Black Bulgar Bulgaria inquinans (Pers.) Fr. (illustrated 50% life size) Fruit body 1–4cm across, rubbery, globose, the margin tightly inrolled when young, brownish, the exterior scurfy, later expanding and then flattened, with a smooth, black disc. Spores 11–14×6–7¼, kidney-shaped; the upper 4 in the ascus dark brown, the lower 4 colourless. Spore print dark, sooty brown. Asci 200×9¼. Habitat gregarious on dead wood of deciduous trees, especially oak, less commonly on beech; autumn. Common. Not edible. Note this may at first be confused with Exidia glandulosa, but is easily distinguished on closer examination by its lack of the small pimples on the disc that are seen in the Exidia, a more irregular shape, and watery, gelatinous consistency. The two are also easily distinguished by taking a spore print; the spores of Bulgaria are dark brown, while those of Exidia are colourless.