Purple Peziza

[SheffieldLass]

This was growing on a stump, possibly Beech as the surrounding trees were all beech.

The tips of the asci are blue in Melzers which should mean Peziza (or can it be something else?). Following Brian Spooners key, the only one that comes close is Peziza gerardii, only the spores of this are shorter <30um, and that one appears to grow on soil and this was definitely on wood.



Asci tips blue in Melzers.

Spores are fusoid.
(23.5) 24.1 - 26.6 (27.8) x (5.7) 5.9 - 6.4 (6.7) um Qav 4.1
In a part of the cup which wasn't mature there were a few spores possibly from the fungus, but septate.

Septate spore

Paraphyses.

Any ideas?

Melanie

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

This was growing on a stump, possibly Beech as the surrounding trees were all beech.

The tips of the asci are blue in Melzers which should mean Peziza (or can it be something else?)

hi Melanie

hope you had a good day today - did you get my Duncombe list?

it certainly can be "something else" - those spores and asci are not those of an operculate ascomycete, let alone a Peziza - looks like an Ascocoryne from here and from those spores Ascocoryne cylichnium would fit the bill

best

Chris