Ascocoryne sarcoides

Scientific name:  Ascocoryne sarcoides
(Jacquin:S.F.Gray) Groves & Wilson
Derivation of name:  Sarc- means "flesh" or "fleshy" and
-oides means "resembling."
Synonyms:  
Common name(s):  Purple jelly drops.
Phylum:   Ascomycota
Order:   Helotiales
Family:   Helotiaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; on deciduous
stumps and fallen logs; September through October.  
Dimensions:  Individual cups 0.5-1 cm wide, forming
larger masses when coalesced.  
Description: Purple lobes initally emerge out of wood,
swell into cup or disc-shaped ascocarps which typically
coalesce to form a violet to purple to reddish-purple
gelatinous, irregular mass.
Edibility: Unknown.
Comments:   When occurring as an irregular mass, these
fungi resemble basidiomycete jelly fungi. Unlike the true jelly
fungi, Ascocoryne sarcoides produces ascospores, not
basidiospores. 

More information at RogersMushrooms.com:


Figure 1. Ascocoryne sarcoides as individual ascocarps
with a disc or saucer shape. Photo © Roz Lowen.

Figure 2. Disc-shaped, purplish fruit bodies of Ascocoryne
sarcoides. Photo © Dianna Smith.

Figure 3. Specimens of Ascocoryne sarcoides
pressing against each other as they grow. Photo ©
Geroge Barron.

Figure 4. The ascocarps on the right are just emerging from
the bark. As they grow and coalesce, clusters of ascocarps
come to resemble irregular, gelatinous masses such as the
specimen on the left. Photo © George Barron.