 "Coccomyces dentatus" is one of only two species that are known to have both a spermatial and a non-spermatial state (the other is "Ascodichaena rugosa").The species is frequently confused with "Coccomyces coronatus", which has inflated paraphyses, longer asci and ascospores, less regularly shaped apothecia, and rarely occurs on leaves of evergreens.It prefers to grow on well-rotted leaves, and is found predominantly in northern Europe and eastern North America.