492 BRITISH FUNGI 



L. coprinaria. — ^Ascophores becoming almost plane, orange-red 

 to scarlet, with a marginal fringe of spine-like, brown hairs, 3-5 

 lines across (spores i-celled, colourless, elliptical, smooth, 17-19 x 



8-9 /^). 



On cow dung. Gregarious. Very common. 



L. stercorea. — Closely allied to L. coprinaria, differing mainly in 

 the presence of stellate hairs on the outside of the ascophore ; disc 

 dingy red, sometimes with an orange tinge, marginal hairs long, 

 brown, 1-3 lines across. 



On dung of various animals. Common. 



Dasyscypha 



Ascophore minute, sessile or nearly so, closed at first, then ex- 

 panded and nearly plane, thin and delicate in texture, externally 

 and the edge downy or pilose (spores colourless, smooth, continuous 

 ( = i-celled) or 2-celled). 



Distinguished by the minute ascophore being downy externally 

 and at the edge. The hairs forming the external and marginal down 

 are all of one kind, thin-walled and soft ; whereas in Lachnea, an 

 allied genus, the hairs springing from the edge of the ascophore are 

 thick-walled, pointed, and bristle-like, and much longer than the 

 rest. The species all grow^ on plants, and some are destructive 

 parasites. 



D. calycina (larch canker). — Ascophores gregarious or scattered, 

 narrowed into a short, stout, stem-hke base, globose and closed at 

 first, then expanded with the white, downy edge inturned ; disc 

 orange-yellow, externally, and the edge white and downy, 1-2 lines 

 across (spores elhptic-fusiform, colourless, smooth, i-celled, 18-25 X 

 6-8 /.). 



Although quite a minute fungus, this species is introduced on 

 account of its very destructive nature, being a deadly parasite to 

 the larch, which suffers to the extent of many thousands of pounds 

 annually in this country alone. It is practically present in every 

 larch plantation in the country, where it causes canker-like patches 

 on the trunk and branches, and may also be found on dead branches 

 lying on the ground. The cups or ascophores, although small, are 

 rendered conspicuous by the bright orange disc surrounded by a 

 white border. When young the ascophores resemble minute white, 

 downy balls. 



Peziza 



Ascophore sessile or narrowed below into a very short stem-like 

 base, fleshy and brittle, subglobose and closed at first, the margin 

 gradually expanding until a cup-shaped or saucer-shaped body is 

 produced, in some species l)ecoming quite plane ; disc even, veined 

 or wrinkled, nodulose, etc. ; externally warted or scurfy, rarely 

 almost smooth (asci cylindrical, 8-spored). 



