Bay Cup Fungus
(Peziza badia)
An Ascomycete cup fungus in the family Pezizaceae, this widespread species is found in woodlands in much of the world, frequently on disturbed, compacted or sandy soils, such as roadsides or trails. It is a saprophyte that decomposes litter or woody debris. The fungus ranges from 2-8cm broad and up to 4cm tall. The fertile surface is reddish-brown to purple-brown to olive-brown. The udersurface is granular to scurfy and lighter in color. It is sessile, lacking a stalk. It may be solitary but more frequelty is found in groups. The shape may be round when solitary, but may be appear pinched, lobed or irregular when in groups, with a margin that is in-curved. The fruit bodies are fragile with no distinct odor. The spores are white and wind-scattered. If thumped a visible cloud of spores will often be released from the hymenial surface. It is said to be edible but poisonous if not cooked. It is one of the most commonly encountered of all in the family. The word badia means reddish-brown in Latin.