Unidentified fungi

squirrel22 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 04:19 PM

Hi, can anyone identify this fungi that is currently growing on multiple damp patches in my parents' home please? I'm just concerned that it may contain harmful spores as have seen it give off puffs of smoke when in contact with direct sunlight or fresh air. It starts off the lighter colour of the 2 pictures, then slowly turns darker as it seems to dry up and turn black and crispy looking. Any help with the identification of this fungi will be greatly appreciated, thank you!

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 04:40 PM

Hi Squirrel, welcome to WAB - I think its a Peziza, possibly domiciliana, but await the experts!
If it is, i dont think its a problem except to indicate slight dampness (hopefully)?
Cheers
Ken

FungiJohn · #3 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 05:18 PM

Very likely P. domiciliana Ken. A slight possibility of P. repanda too!

Did the young fruitbodies have a short stalk at their base?

Welcome to WAB Squirrel btw

John

Chris Yeates · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 06:35 PM

while I would (of course) like to see this under the 'scope, for me this looks like classic Peziza cerea; going back to the original description there should be some hint of a lilaceous to purplish tinge for P. domiciliana (I notice that 'wine red' is specifically mentioned in Brian Spooner's provisional Peziza key)

cheers

Chris

diggleken · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 06:41 PM

Hi Chris,
(with trepidation!) if my other domiciliana is right in the past, that wine bloom is a sort of darkening during later life, not especially when fresh, which is what I have noted in mine - in fact it seems more browning really.
Mmmhhh . . .. . .
Ken

Chris Yeates · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 07:53 PM

I've just had a look at the A to Z images of Peziza cerea - Cellar Cup - Peziza cerea | Wild About Britain - I'm not convinced (and I don't mean the one that looks suspiciously like a Pluteus

); "habitat woodland" Hmmmmmmm . . . . . .

this is why checking spore length (and other such features) makes these things a lot simpler:
10-12.5 microns in domiciliana
14-16 microns in cerea

I never name a Peziza with confidence without taking a piece home for examination - look at the opening couplet in the Spooner key:

"1 Spores smooth or finely longitudinally striate under light microscope; guttules usually absent, rarely present
2 Spores ornamented with fine (oil immersion!) to coarse warts or reticulum under light microscope; guttules usually present, rarely absent"

'nuff said . . .

unfortunately, very often the two least useful characters for reliably naming a fungus are size (at the macro level - not of micro-characters) and

colour

sad but true

C

FungiJohn · #7 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

I've just had a look at the A to Z images of Peziza cerea - Cellar Cup - Peziza cerea | Wild About Britain - I'm not convinced (and I don't mean the one that looks suspiciously like a Pluteus

); "habitat woodland" Hmmmmmmm . . . . . .

C

You are correct with that one Chris, it was actually Peziza varia

John