142 



Mycologica! Bulletin No. 30 



[Vol. Ill 



the species ; tluis we have Geophyxis, Acetabnla, Otidia, Discina, Pyrone- 

 ana, Humaria, Sarcoscypha, Lachnea and many others — and enough spe- 

 cies left over to give Peziza a respectable standing as a genus. 



The Name Pe-zi'-za. — This was given by Dillenius in 1819, taken 

 from the Greek word, Pccis, used to designate "a mushroom without a 

 stalk." Some botanists, seized with a zeal for pure classical terminology, 

 say this ought to be therefore "Pc'-zis," not "Pe-zi'-za." I am not com- 

 petent to judge in the case, but at any rate this may be said, that Pc-zi'-ca 

 {not "Pesis") was really the name given by Dillenius in 1819 and a good- 

 enough name withal. Besides if this is to be changed to suit refined taste, 

 then I suppose dozens if not hundreds of others may be drawn into the 

 same category. Mycologists today are coining such names as Rehmiomy- 

 ces, Eichleriella, Prachtflorella, and thej- seem to serve the purpose even 

 if they are not classical Latin. The oldest name, tliat is, the first name 

 given, illy or happily chosen, is the one to be used invariably, a rule which 

 botanists call the Principle of Priority. A strict application of this per- 

 haps will give, if anything will give it, stability in nomenclature, devoutly 

 to be wished. 



The Group of Dis'-co-my-ce'-tes. — The Pezizas serve well to illus- 

 strate the large group called Dis'-co-my-ce'-tes. The.se fungi have the 

 spores in as'-ci; and the hy-inc'-ni-ttm, or spore-bearing layer, forms the 

 surface layer or bottom mostly of a r;//' nr sauccr-sl:apcd fruiting body. The 

 Helvellas, Gyromitra, Bulgaria, as well as Peziza, heretofore illustrated, 

 belong to this group. 



FiC. llfi. PhY-LO-.ST!C' TA A-SI m'-I-N AE. A I-EAF-SPOT l'\lNGU.S OF THE I'aPAW. 



The figure? shows a sccti'.n throut'li the leaf moderately niagnitkil an<l at tlie riglit 

 the spores (si)orulcs) Iiighly inagiiitied. 'I'he spore-ease is calUd the f^yc-iiid'-i-iiiii. anil 

 this is formed, as shown in the figine, below the epidermis, though it is slightly 

 erumpent when mature. Many of the pye-ni<l'-ia are clustered in a single dead spot 

 rMi the leaf wliich may be of circular or irregular outline; the jiyenidia can be easily 

 seen with a hand lens — sonietinus even distinctly by the unaided eye. This is a 

 parasitic .species and the dead tissue of the liaf is caused by the presence of the 

 fungus. 



TNTERESTiNf, CoMMON Names. — To somc of thc conspicuous Pezizas 

 fanciful names have been applied, and it will be interesting to put them 

 on record. Jt is said for example that they are called "Blood-cups," "Fairy 

 cups," "IHaps," "P.ird's-nests," etc. The local names, if reported from 

 various localiMcs, will be listed: notice of special names in use of any or 

 all kinds of Mushrooins is solicited. 



