PHOTOGRAPHS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF 
CUP-FUNGI— IV. PEZIZA CLYPEATA 
Fred J. Seaver 
(With Plate 191, Containing 2 Figures) 
Among the fleshy cup-fungi, there are few which have been the 
subject of more confusion and misunderstanding than Peziza 
clypeata Schw. The species was originally described by Schwei- 
nitz from material collected in North Carolina. 
A specimen collected October, 1883, by the late A. P. Morgan 
was sent to Mr. J. B. Ellis with the following note; “I enclose 
what I take to be Peziza clypeata Schw. Do you find this species ? 
The substance is quite thick and firm ; it spread out flat upon the 
wood ; it grows on old rotten logs with a damp smooth surface.” 
A note appended to this specimen apparently by Mr. Ellis states, 
— “ probably = N. A. F. 568.” This number had already been 
distributed under the name of Psilopezia nummularia. From 
this time the two species seem to have been confused. 
In the “ Discomycetes of the Miami Valley,” l\Ir. Morgan^ in 
referring to Peziza clypeata Schw. says : “ I had always taken 
this for Psilopezia nummularia until I got Massee’s work.” In 
the same paper, referring to Psilopezia nummularia, he says : 
“ Although the type of this species was sent from Cincinnati by 
Mr. Lea, I do not appear to have collected it, my specimens exam- 
ined by Mr. Massee being pronounced Peziza adnata B. & C.” 
Mr. Morgan, in the same paper, regarded this as a synonym of 
Peziza clypeata Schw. which it undoubtedly is, if Massee was 
correct in his determination of the Ohio specimen. Peziza ad- 
nata, a tropical plant described from Cuba, is said to have rough 
spores. This may be due to faulty observation, for the two 
species agree perfectly in other characters. At any rate, Peziza 
clypeata and Peziza adnata have come to be regarded as syno- 
nyms. 
Although Mr. Morgan says that he had always regarded his 
1 Jour. Myc. 8: 189. 1902. 
235 
