Peziza phyllogena

Appearance

The fruit bodies of ''Peziza phyllogena'' are cup-shaped, measuring 3–8 cm in diameter. The flesh is thin and fragile, and the sides of the cup are often compressed or lobed. The cups do not have a stem, and instead are attached to the substrate at a narrow central point on the bottom. The inner surface of the cup is dark purplish brown to dark reddish gray, while the outer surface is similar to the inner surface, or may have more purplish tones. The cup margin is thin, with a sharp edge, and it turns black as it dries. The edibility of the fungus is unknown.

The spore print is hyaline to pale cream. The spores are ellipsoid, covered with warts, and measure 17–23 by 8–13 μm. The asci are operculate , eight-spored, and cylindrical, measuring 215–285 by 11.5–13.5 μm.

Distribution

''Peziza phyllogena'' grows solitarily or in dense clusters on soil or on well-decayed logs. Fruit bodies usually appear in early spring. The fungus has a widespread distribution in North America. It was newly recorded from Iceland in 2007.

Habitat

''Peziza phyllogena'' grows solitarily or in dense clusters on soil or on well-decayed logs. Fruit bodies usually appear in early spring. The fungus has a widespread distribution in North America. It was newly recorded from Iceland in 2007.