Westboro
5/6/09
Pig's Ears - Discina perlata - Gyromitra perlata

This one was solitary, growing close to the ground.  About 3.25" in diameter.

Underside

Close-up of top.

Spore print is supposed to be white.  I did not get enough spores on slide to tell the color.  Here are the spores at 400x the magnification.

They are the right size and shape and contain oil drops but do not have any visible conical appendages on both ends.  This might be due to the fact that I mounted them in KOH.  According to Kuo they are best seen in a water mount.

Here the spores are magnified 1000x.  The largest measured 42x14 microns.  No apiculi visible.

Mounted in water at 1000x.  Now you can see the apiculi.