THli SP ORBS AC FUNGI 503 



found in Purgatory Swamp, near Boston, by Mrs. Blackford. Both cap and 

 stem were a deep verdigris-green. They were sent to me during the warm 

 weather of August. 



Peziza. Linn. 



Peziza means stalkless mushroom. This is a large genus of discomycetous 

 fungi in which the hymenium lines the cavity of a fleshy membranous or waxy cup. 

 They are attached to the ground, decaying wood, or other substances, bv the 

 center, though sometimes they are distinctly stalked. They are often beautifully 

 colored and are called fairy cups, blood cups, and cup fungi. They are all cup- or 

 saucer-shaped ; externally warted, scurvy or smooth ; asci cylindrical, 8-spored. 

 The genus is large. Prof. Peck reports 150 species. Found early in spring till 

 early winter. 



Peziza acetabulum. Linn. 

 Reticulated Peziza. Edible. 



Acetabulum, a small cup or vinegar cup. The spore-bearing body stipitate, 

 cup-shaped, dingy, ribbed externally with branching veins, which run up from 

 the short, pitted and hollow stem ; mouth somewhat contracted ; light umber with- 

 out and darker within. Found on the ground in the spring. 



Peziza badia. Pers. 



Large Brown Peziza. Edible. 



Gregarious in its habits ; sessile, or narrowed into a very short stout stem, 

 more or less pitted ; nearly round and closed at first, then expanded until cup- 

 shaped ; margin at first involute ; externally covered with a frost-like bloom ; disk 

 darker than the external surface, very changeable in color ; lobes more or less split 

 and wavy, somewhat thick ; spore-sacs cylindrical, apex truncante, sporidia oblong- 

 ovate, epispore rough, 8-spored. Found on the ground in the grass or by the 

 roadside in open woods. I found my first specimens in a clearing at Salem, but 

 I have since found it at several points in the state. It should be fresh 

 when eaten. 



