OBSERVATIONS ON PEZIZA. 
141 
we can only urge in reply that we have arrived at the conclusion 
that P. scutellata may be an exceptional species, but, at any rate, 
although usually the epispore is smooth, it has the power, under 
certain circumstances, of producing sporidia with a rough epispore. 
Unless we are much mistaken, although we have no notes to refer 
to, this is not an isolated instance. There is an impression that 
Peziza gregaria Rehm., which is not uncommon in England, has 
with us smooth sporidia, but that both Mr. Phillips and myself 
have examined Continental specimens, in one instance, with a 
rough epispore. The Peziza , and its sporidia, are scarcely to be 
confounded with any other species. 
It is of but little consequence whether we call these twenty-two 
forms of Peziza so many varieties of one type, or give them names 
and call them twenty-two species, they have an undoubted close 
relation with each other, so close that it requires but little hesita- 
tion to confess that they may all be descended from some original 
Peziza scutellata , within the limits of historic times. Without the 
use of the microscope, it is doubtful whether even to Linnasus 
himself they would have appeared as any other than Peziza 
scutellata. 
What shall we say of parts having a less permanent character 
than the sporidia, such as the appendages of the external surface? 
We know well enough what is the general feeling amongst botanists 
as to the pubescence of leaves, but mycologists have not yet at- 
tained to the same impression as to the woolliness of the perithe- 
cium in Sphceria or the hairy external surface of the cup in Peziza. 
In some cases this pubescence is very fugitive, delicate, and, in our 
opinion, of little or no classificato ry value. In others, and particu- 
larly in the group under notice, the hairs are most pronounced, 
highly-developed, numerous, persistent, and deeply-coloured. Yet 
if we will follow them from the most highly-developed of half-a- 
millemetre in length, to the small short hairs of Peziza Texensis, 
we shall find a gradation terminating in what are no more than the 
hair- like prolongations of the external cells of the cup. Through 
this simplest form Peziza Chateri , Sm. is the link that unites the 
naked red Pezizce of terrestrial habits with the section of Scutellinia. 
Through Peziza Chateri and P. macrocystis we enter another com- 
pact group, but with less startling affinities than those which we 
have reviewed in detail. 
If it were necessary to illustrate still further our views with 
regard to certain groups of closely-related species, we might indi- 
cate P: stercorea , P., P. alpina , Fckl., P. coprinaria , C., and P. 
scubalonta , C. and G., with their relations to P. Dalmeniensis, C., 
P. theleboloides, A. and S., and other allies. And in addition 
thereto that section which we have called Sepultaria, having as 
types such species as P. sepulta, Fr., and P. arenosa , Fckl. 
Already our remarks have reached the extreme limits of our space, 
and hence we must commend our imperfect observations to the con- 
sideration of all those who are specially interested in this subject. 
