Cup fungus ID please?

[Monkey Orchid]

Hi, folks.

I photographed this cup fungus yesterday afternoon, growing in a pile of wood chips in our back garden. I initially thought it was a Peziza species, but now I'm wondering if it's Bleach cup Disciotis venosa. Could anyone confirm or suggest another ID?

[Leif]

If it smells of bleach then it is Disciotis venosa. However, given the substrate, this is a Peziza, and from the form, especially the colour, the substrate, the shape, and the marks around the margin, this is most probably Peziza repanda. That said, you still need to check it under the microscope so as to be sure.

[Chris Yeates]

hi

if it's in your back garden, then going back to it isn't a problem . . . cut a thin section through a piece of fruit-body and see if the flesh seems to have a series of distinct layers - that's a useful first step

if you don't have access to a microscope, you can PM me - I'd be prepared to have a look at a specimen for you

cheers

Chris

[Monkey Orchid]

Thanks for the info, Leif and Chris.

When I smelled the fungus on Sunday there was certainly no bleach scent - just a fairly strong typical 'mushroomy' odour.

Peziza repanda was one of my first guesses for ID. I'll try taking a thin slice and having a look for distinct layers with a hand lens, as a next step.

[Monkey Orchid]

Ok, I've taken a slice and looked at it and there are distinct layers in the fruit body flesh. Looks like two clearly defined layers, plus the scurfy off-white underside layer. Is this indicative of Peziza spp?

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Monkey Orchid

Ok, I've taken a slice and looked at it and there are distinct layers in the fruit body flesh. Looks like two clearly defined layers, plus the scurfy off-white underside layer. Is this indicative of Peziza spp?

hi

I don't think there's any danger in labelling it a Peziza - the layered structure is a feature of certain species of Peziza, that's all; if there appear to be only a couple of layers then that is essentially unlayered - there can be up to five . . .

I would suspect Peziza micropus here, but without microscopy one will never know . . . . (I have offered )

best

Chris

[Leif]

The books I have (including Ellis and Ellis) give P. micropus as growing to 4 to 5 cm across, whereas the largest specimens in the photos look more like 10 cm at a guess. Size is consistent with P. repanda. Unless the books I have are inaccurate. (It happens.)

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Leif

The books I have (including Ellis and Ellis) give P. micropus as growing to 4 to 5 cm across, whereas the largest specimens in the photos look more like 10 cm at a guess. Size is consistent with P. repanda.

you could well be correct, Leif - unfortunately Peziza is one of those (many) areas where you need the thing under the 'scope

C

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

unfortunately Peziza is one of those (many) areas where you need the thing under the 'scope

C

As I said originally.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Leif

As I said originally.

very true

Chris