Purple Fuzz

Purple Fuzz © GBarton

Violet Crust
Punctularia atropurpurascens

This eye-catching, purple, fuzzy fungus, sometimes weeping red guttations, thrives on dead deciduous tree wood throughout the mushroom season.

Appearance

  • Purple and fuzzy, sometimes with weeping red guttations
  • Grows amoeba-like

At Edgewood

About

  • Basidiomycetes – a major lineage of fungi that usually produce spores within basidia (club-like structures)
  • Found throughout our mushroom season
  • Saprotrophic – grows primarily on dead deciduous tree wood
  • Edibility (San Mateo County Parks prohibits removal of any natural material)
    • Unknown
    • Unless you are an expert, do not pick and consume wild mushrooms

Learn More

Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 14. #013: Characteristics of division Basidiomycota. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.

Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #039: Mushroom morphology: Crust fungi. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.

References

Knijn, A. 2019. Biological characteristics of Punctularia atropurpurascens through morphological and molecular analyses during development. Italian Journal of Mycology 48: 39-49.