126 



ON PEZIZA BRUNNEA, 



Recently another Peziza has been referred to Peziza hrunnea, 

 A. & S., with some greater reason, since it has a bright clear brown 

 disc, and is about the same size as that indicated in the " Con- 

 spectus." It is this which Dr. Nylander (Observ. p. 21) names 

 Peziza hrunnea ; and also Karsten (Myc. Fenn, p. 75), with 

 spherical sporidia from -OIS-'OIT m.m. diameter. We received 

 the same species from the United States, and applied thereto the 

 name of Peziza confusa (U.S. Discomycetes), under the impression 

 that there was no evidence to show that this species was known to 

 Albertini and Schweinitz, or that it exists in any old collection, or 

 has been met with at all until very recently. Although in colour 

 this species approaches the figure given in the " Conspectus," this 

 feature cannot be accepted alone ; for we have received from Hun- 

 gary, through the kindness of Professor Hazslinzzky, a brown 

 terrestrial Peziza under the name of Peziza hrunnea, which has 

 elliptical sporidia, somewhat incurved margin, but not distinctly 

 hairy externally, and much smaller than 1-3 lines. 



Until more distinct evidence can be afforded of the identity of 

 Karsten's species with that described by Albertini and Schweinitz, 

 we deem it much more consistent to retain the name of Peziza con- 

 fusa, which we applied to it provisionally, than to take for granted 

 that it is the true P. hrunnea of which we still have grave doubts. 

 As far as we are aware no brown hairy Peziza corresponding with 

 Sowerby's figure has been found in Britain since his time. The 

 nearest approach to it is a pale condition of Peziza umhror^im, which 

 is sometimes found with a flesh-coloured disc. Hitherto we do not 

 find that Peziza confusa has been recorded at all in the west of 

 Europe, or anywhere near where the Peziza hrunnea, Alb. &, Schw., 

 was found and figured. 



We are, therefore, content to hold the true Peziza hrunnea in 

 abeyance, and not to accept any of the species which have been re- 

 ferred to it in recent times, in the hope that some more conclusive 

 evidence will be forthcoming in the future to identify and establish 

 this lost species. 



LICHEN PILULARIS, Day. 



Can any lichenist inform me what this lichen really is ? The 

 Hook. Herb, at Kew has two specimens under this name, which 

 once belonged to Dr. Withering. One of them, which externally 

 admirably resembles the fig. of L. pibilaris, in *' Linn. Trans.," 

 Vol. ii, p, 283, tab. 28, fig. 1, proved, on microscopic examination, 

 to be undoubtedly Lecidea ccntigua, Fr., and the other as certainly 

 to be Irachylia ii/mpanella, Fr. The genuine L. j^Huiaris, Dav., 

 remains yet to be deciphered. Is the Eev. Hugh Davis's herba- 

 rium in existence ; and, if so, where preserved ? 



W. A. Leighton. 



