31/10/2026
A little alien world hiding in the forest 💜
At first glance, these tiny purple, jelly-like clusters look almost too bizarre to be real.
Hidden on a cut log in the forests of Oisterwijk, I discovered what appears to be Ascocoryne sarcoides, also known as Purple Jellydisc (Paarse knoopzwam).
What makes this fungus so fascinating is that it can take on two completely different forms during its life cycle. These glossy purple blobs are likely its asexual reproductive structures, while another stage produces tiny cup-shaped fruiting bodies.
And while it looks like something from another planet, it’s quietly doing an important job, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients back into the forest.
An entire miniature world, hiding in plain sight. 🌿
Nature is wonderfully weird.
