178 Massee and Crossland : New British Discomycetes. 



The genus Peziza, which at one time included most of our 

 Discomycetes, is at the present day more restricted, nevertheless 

 yet includes some of the most beautiful and most generally 

 known members of the group. The typical form of a Peziza is 

 a cup- or saucer-shaped receptacle, or fruit-bearing portion, 

 supported on a more or less elongated stem, and, in different 

 species, varying in size from three or four inches across to minute 

 structures not half a line broad (less than one-eighth). As would 

 be expected in a large group, departures from a typical form are 

 numerous; in some the edge of the cup is irregular or wavy, the 

 margin and outside smooth, downy, or bristling with stout hairs; 

 and in many the stem is entirely absent. Colour is equally 

 variable, in many species being very bright and showy. All 

 agree in having the spores or reproductive bodies produced in 

 the interior of mother-cells or asci, each ascus usually containing 

 eight spores. Much variety and beauty of structure is presented 

 by the spores of different species, in form varying from globose, 

 through elliptical, to spindle-shaped and needle-like ; colourless, 

 clear violet, brown, or blackish and opaque ; while the surface 

 of the spore may be smooth, warted, spiny, or covered with 

 ridges uniting to form a beautiful network. 



Finally, as to occurrence, the Pezizse are to be found prac- 

 tically everywhere and at all seasons. Many grow on the 

 ground, more, perhaps, on dead wood, twigs, and leaves, 

 several of the most beautiful and minute forms grow on dung 

 of various animals, and not a few are well known as destructive 

 parasites on the stems or leaves of living plants. 



As to literature, we have two modern works dealing with 

 the group, both are inexpensive, and both have illustrations of 

 the various genera. The respective titles of the books are given 

 in the preceding footnotes. 



It only remains for us to thank our coadjutors — Mr. G. 

 Nicholson, F.L.S., Curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew ; 

 Mr. E. S. Salmon, F.L.S., Kew; Mr. A. Clarke, Huddersfield; 

 Mr. J. Needham, Hebden Bridge ; and Mr. T. Gibbs, Sheffield 

 — for their kind assistance. The late Mr. H. T. Soppitt, of 

 Halifax, discovered several of the species enumerated here. 

 Cenangium sarothamni Fuckel, Symb. Myc, p. 270 (1870). 



Erumpent, gregarious but usually isolated, less frequently 

 in small clusters, up to 2 mm. across, sessile but narrowed 

 below, externally and the erect, more or less wavy margin 

 covered with clear lemon-yellow powder, below which the 

 surface is brown ; disc brown ; asci cylindric-clavate, apex 



Naturalist, 



