496 BRITISH FUNGI 



|-| in, long (spores elliptic-oblong, colourless, smooth, 25-30 x 

 8-9 r)- 



Readily known among the large, stalked Pezizre by the bril- 

 liantly coloured disc with an entire edge and the whitish outside 

 and stem. One of the most beautiful of our indigenous fungi, and 

 not by any means uncommon, but often passes unobserved as it is 

 in perfection during late winter and early spring. It is collected 

 in the woods in the district of Scarborough, and sold, along with a 

 setting of moss, as a table decoration. 



On fallen sticks, more especially hazel, among moss in damp 

 woods. 



var. lactea. — Ascophore entirely white or cream-colour. On 

 fallen branches. Rare. 



Sepultaria 



Ascophore large, sessile, subterranean, globose, completely 

 closed when young ; during growth the apex is ruptured into a 

 number of triangular, pointed teeth, exposing the disc, and the 

 fungus becomes slightly raised out of the soil. The outside of the 

 fungus is often covered with matted hairs, but is in some species 

 almost smooth (spores colourless, elhptical). 



Distinguished from Peziza by being subterranean and by open- 

 ing at the apex in a stellate manner, hence the edge is broken up 

 into irregularly triangular, pointed teeth. Colour dingy. 



S. sepulta. — Ascophore at first subterranean, becoming more or 

 less exposed at maturity, depressed-globose and entirely closed at 

 first, then showing a small aperture at the apex, finally splitting 

 into more or less irregularly triangular teeth, yellowish brown or 

 dingy, outside densely downy and more or less coated with sand, 

 1-2 in. across (spores colourless, elliptical, smooth). 



On the ground in woods, among leaves, etc. Not uncommon, 

 but somewhat difficult to find on account of its dull colour. 



5. sumneriana. — Bearing a general resemblance to S. sepulta, 

 l)ut readily distinguished by its differently shaped spores. The 

 ascophore is usually also larger (spores fusiform or spindle- 

 shaped, with pointed ends, 25-30x11-13 /a). 



In the ground, generally under conifers. Appearing in the 

 spring. 



Otidea 



Ascophore very shortly stipitate or sessile, large, fleshy or some- 

 what leathery, elongatecl and hare's-ear-shaped or irregularly con- 

 torted and often clustered, outside scurfy or downy (spores i-celled, 

 colourless, elliptical). 



Characterized by the irregular form of the ascophore ; in some 

 species it is erect and more or less resembles in form the ear of a 

 hare or a rabbit ; in others it is cup or saucer-shaped, generally 



