Synonyms: Mollisia minutella, Mollisia revincta, Niptera cinerea, Octospora cinerea, Octospora pallida, Peziza alni, Peziza callosa, Peziza cinerea, Peziza grisea, Peziza viridis, Tremella cinerea, Trochila cinerea.
Common name: common grey disco.
Mollisia cinerea is a small, discomycetous fungus that grows on decaying wood and other plant debris. In East and Central Texas, it typically appears as tiny, greyish-white to pale brown cups or saucers, 1-5 mm in diameter, often in large numbers on moist, shaded substrates. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid, and measure 8-12 x 3-4 µm. It fruits throughout the year, but is most common during the spring and fall months when moisture is plentiful.
Common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) on an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022
Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Close-up of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) on an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Blackened oak log with common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Pattern of growth of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) on an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Asci at low magnification of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) from an oak log, collected on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022
Asci and paraphyses of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) from an oak log, collected on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022
Asci of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) and some spore from an oak log, collected on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022
Asci with spores of common grey disco mushrooms (Mollisia cinerea) from an oak log, collected on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 30, 2022Observations of Mollisia cinerea in East and Central Texas reveal its growth pattern on oak logs, specifically on the Caney Creek Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. The fungus was found growing on blackened oak logs, with a distinct pattern of grey disco-shaped mushrooms. Upon closer inspection, the asci and paraphyses were visible under low magnification, showcasing the fungus's reproductive structures. Further examination revealed the asci containing spores, which are essential for the fungus's dissemination. The observations highlight the presence of Mollisia cinerea in this region, specifically on decaying oak wood, and provide insight into its morphology and reproductive characteristics. The detailed images capture the fungus's growth habit, microscopic features, and spore-bearing structures, contributing to a better understanding of this species in East and Central Texas.
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