CLASSIFICATION 493 



Most closely allied to Humana, which differs in the minute size 

 of most^of the species. At one time the genus Peziza included all 

 the cup-shaped fungi, which have now been distributed^throughout 

 many genera. 



Peziza, as at present understood, includes those brittle, cup- 

 shaped fungi of symmetrical form, sessile, and with the outer sur- 

 face rough or scurfy. Some tone of brown is the prevailing colour. 

 Some species are of considerable size. 



P. vesiculosa (PI. XXXVII, fig. 2). — Clustered and often dis- 

 torted, due tojnutual pressure, sessile, but narrowed at the base 

 of the ascophore to a point of attachment; at first globose and 

 closed, then opening by a minute pore, which gradually expands 

 until more or less cup-shaped, edge often split and wavy when old ; 

 disc pale brown, even, externally paler and coarsely granular, 1-3 in. 

 across (spores elliptical, colourless, smooth, 21-24x11-12 11). 



Flesh watery, thick, brittle, especially at the base, where it readily 

 splits into two layers. Very brittle. Said to be edible ; it certainly 

 is not poisonous, but has no special flavour nor aroma. 



Usually in dense clusters on manure heaps, richly manm-ed 

 ground, heaps of decaying leaves, etc. 



P. reticulata (PI. XXXVII, fig. 3). — Ascophore subsessile, nar- 

 rowed into a thick stem-hke base, depressed and almost closed 

 when young with the edge much incurved, gradually expanding 

 until almost plane except the extreme edge, which remains in- 

 curved ; disc with raised ribs which anastomose to form an ir- 

 regular network, reddish brown, externally whitish or brownish 

 white, somewhat mealy, 2-5 in. across, fleshy, brittle (spores 

 smooth, elliptical, colourless, 23-26x12-13 jj). 



Allied to P. repanda, but distinguished from this and every other 

 species by the prominent nodules and anastomosing, raised ribs 

 on the disc. 



On the ground. Solitary. 



P. repanda. — Ascophore subsessile, contracted into a short stem- 

 like base which is often rooting, saucer-shaped, then expanded, the 

 edge often turned under ; disc pale or dark brown or umber, be- 

 coming more or less wrinkled at the centre, externally \\'hitisli and 

 more or less granular, 2-4 in. across (spores elliptical, smooth, 

 colourless, 18-22x11-12 /v.). 



Fleshy, brittle, edge crenulated. Solitary, gregarious or tufted. 



On the ground, often in beech woods, also on rotten trunks. 



P. venosa. — Ascophore sessile or contracted into a short stem- 

 like base, cup-shaped, edge inturned when young, then expanding 

 and the edge more or less spreading, split or lolled, and wavy ; 

 disc umber-brown, externally pale and minutely granular ; smell 

 strong, nitrous, 1-2 in. across (spores ellii)tical, smooth, colourless, 

 18-24x11-13 /a). 



