Peziza cerea
Encyclopedia
Peziza cerea, commonly known as the Cellar Cup is a species of Ascomycete fungus in the genus Peziza
, family Pezizaceae. In common with other Ascomycetes the upper surface of the fungus has a layer of cylindrical spore producing cells called asci
, from which the ascospores are forcibly discharged.
, ascospores and paraphyses
. Paraphyses are sterile cells' often with swollen tips and are at high turgor pressure. Tips of the paraphyses are very tightly together at the surface of the hymenium and create a barrier; the epithecium.
A high osmotic pressure in the cells of the epithecium prevent marauding microfauna that would otherwise penetrate and feed on the rich protoplasm below. To disperse spores, asci push between the paraphyses from below, shoot off their spores then collapse.
The name Peziza means a sort of mushroom without a root or stalk.
Peziza
Peziza is a large genus of saprophytic cup fungi that grow on the ground, rotting wood, or dung. Most members of this genus are of unknown edibility and are difficult to identify as separate species without use of microscopy...
, family Pezizaceae. In common with other Ascomycetes the upper surface of the fungus has a layer of cylindrical spore producing cells called asci
Ascus
An ascus is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. On average, asci normally contain eight ascospores, produced by a meiotic cell division followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some genera or species can number one , two, four, or multiples...
, from which the ascospores are forcibly discharged.
Description
A yellow grey to beige fungus internally, less than 5 cm across with a granular or brittle flesh. The stype is placed in a lateral position, but is small or even entirely absent. The spore colour is white, cream or yellowish; they are elliptical and smooth. The cup exterior is white in colour.Synonyms
Aleuria cerea (Sowerby) Gillet, (1881); Aleuria muralis (Sowerby) Boud., (1907); Aleuria tectoria (Cooke) Boud., (1907); Aleuria viridaria (Berk. & Broome) Boud., (1907); Galactinia cerea (Sowerby) (1962); Galactinia tectoria (Cooke); Galactinia vesiculosa f. cerea (Sowerby) (1960); Geopyxis muralis (Sowerby) (1889); Peziza muralis (Sowerby) (1887); Peziza tectoria Cooke, (1875); Peziza vesiculosa var. cerea (Sowerby) Massee; Peziza viridaria Berk. & Broome, (1871); Plicaria muralis (Sowerby) Rehm; and Plicaria viridaria (Berk. & Broome) Rehm.Characteristics
Peziza cerea can be initially identified by its growth in cellars, damp mortar, soil between pavement slabs, on rotting sandbags, plant material or manure. Found all year round. Its upper surface (at maturity) is usually somewhat wrinkled near the centre; a whitish and minutely fuzzy under surface; a round, cuplike shape when young, and a flattened-irregular shape when mature. The hymenium contains asciAscus
An ascus is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. On average, asci normally contain eight ascospores, produced by a meiotic cell division followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some genera or species can number one , two, four, or multiples...
, ascospores and paraphyses
Paraphyses
Paraphyses are part of the fertile spore-bearing layer in certain fungi. More specifically, paraphyses are sterile filamentous hyphal end cells composing part of the hymenium of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota interspersed among either the asci or basidia respectively, and not sufficiently...
. Paraphyses are sterile cells' often with swollen tips and are at high turgor pressure. Tips of the paraphyses are very tightly together at the surface of the hymenium and create a barrier; the epithecium.
A high osmotic pressure in the cells of the epithecium prevent marauding microfauna that would otherwise penetrate and feed on the rich protoplasm below. To disperse spores, asci push between the paraphyses from below, shoot off their spores then collapse.
The name Peziza means a sort of mushroom without a root or stalk.
Ecology
Paths and cellars may sport the Cellar Cup fungus, which is saprobic.See also
- PezizaPezizaPeziza is a large genus of saprophytic cup fungi that grow on the ground, rotting wood, or dung. Most members of this genus are of unknown edibility and are difficult to identify as separate species without use of microscopy...
- Peziza repandaPeziza repandaPeziza repanda, commonly known as the Palamino cup or recurved cup, is a species of fungus in the genus Peziza, family Pezizaceae.-Description:...
, the Palamino or Recurved Cup fungus - PezizomycetesPezizomycetesPezizomycetes are a class of fungi within the phylum Ascomycota.Pezizomycetes are apothecial fungi, meaning that their spore producing/releasing bodies are typically disk-like, bearing on their upper surfaces a layer of cylindrical spore producing cells called asci, from which the spores are...