Hello Everyone,

I have a Peziza sp., found growing on burnt ground, which does not seem to conform with any of the species on the British list.

Instead, I used two French keys to European Peziza species and arrived at P. pseudovesiculosa. Unfortunately, apart from the information given in the keys, I can find no species description.

I have attached a photo of the fruit bodies and a sketch of the microscopy.

During microscopy, I noted that within the same ascus there were immature spores with a deBary bubble and also others which were developing surface warts. In all cases, the spore edges appear smooth, mounted in water. In cotton blue, the warts can be seen at the edges.

The width measurements of the mature spores are noticeably broader than those of the immature spores, but the length measurements do not vary as much.

The paraphyses are distinctly moniliform below the first septum. The swollen tips seem to be surrounded by matter, which in some cases actually makes the tips look spiny.

Cells of the excipulum are quite variable in shape and size. Some are almost perfectly spherical, whilst others are pyriform. The flesh has two differently coloured layers below the hymenium. The sap, when cut, is colourless. 

I wonder if anyone can either confirm Peziza pseudovesiculosa, or suggest an alternative identification?

Thank you,
With Best Wishes,
Peter.