Peziza violacea

Description

Peziza violacea is a species of violet-colored fungus in the genus Peziza of the family Pezizaceae. Fruiting bodies are initially almost spherical, then cup-shaped, then expanding to being somewhat flattened in age. They do not have a stem. The inner spore-bearing surface of the cup, the hymenium, is pale violet to reddish-violet in color, often centrally depressed and slightly wrinkled. The flesh is thin and pale purple. The exterior surface is paler than the interior, somewhat grayish, and may be pruinose near the margins—having a very fine whitish powder on the surface. The odor and taste are not distinctive. It is typically found growing on burnt soil.

This cup fungus is not considered edible.

Common names: Violet Fairy Cup, The Violet Cup Fungus.

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruitbody

   Stemless (or with a very short inconspicuous stem) cup fungus, initially hemispherical, opening to form a shallow cup, usually developing a scalloped rim; 1 to 4cm across. The inner surface is often slightly wrinkled, most noticeably in the central region. The cup flesh is whitish and 0.5 - 2mm thick.

   Violet to deep lilac when young, the hymenium (the fertile upper surface) turns brown with age and exposure to daylight; its surface is smooth and waxy.

   The infertile lower surface is pale lilac when young, becoming whitish or pale tan when old. The surface texture is finely granular/furfuraceous.

2. Asci

   Cylindrical, typically 200-250 x 10-15µm; eight-spored.

3. Paraphyses

   Paraphyses clavate, widening only slightly towards the tips to a diameter of 5-8µm, often slightly curved; contents grainy, brownish-purple.

4. Spores

   Ellipsoidal, smooth, 13-15.5 x 7.5-8.5µm.

5. Spore Print

   White.

6. Odor and Taste

   Not distinctive.

7. Habitat & Ecological Role

   Peziza violacea is a saprophyte and occurs on damp soil in broadleaf and mixed woodlands, very often on burnt ground.

8. Similar Species

   There are at least 100 Peziza species and definite identification is rarely possible without microscopic examination, but the distinctive purplish hymenium of Peziza violacea greatly limits the number of possibilities.

History

This cup fungus was described scientifically in 1801 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, who called it Peziza violacea - the name by which it is still generally known today.

Synonyms of Peziza violacea include Aleuria violacea (Pers.) Gillet, and Humaria violacea (Pers.) Sacc.

Peziza, the genus name, may come from a Latin root referring to a foot - most fungi in this group being sessile (footless or stemless). The specific epithet violacea refers to the violet color of the fertile surface of this cup fungus.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: T (Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic)