| Geopyxis carbonaria | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pezizomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Pyronemataceae |
| Genus: | Geopyxis |
| Species: | G. carbonaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Geopyxis carbonaria (Alb. & Schwein.) Sacc. (1889) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Peziza carbonaria |
|
Geopyxis carbonaria, commonly known as the charcoal loving elf-cup, is a species of fungi in the genus Geopyxis, family Pyronemataceae. The small, fleshy, cup-shaped red fruiting bodies are commonly found on soil where brush has recently been burned.
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The fruiting bodies (ascocarps) of Geopyxis carbonaris are cup shaped, 1–2 cm wide, and have fringed margins. The inner spore-bearing surface of the cup, the hymenium, is brick red and smooth, while the exterior surface is a dull yellow, and may be either smooth or have blister-like spots (pustules). The stipe is small (1–1.5 mm long and 1–2 mm wide), whitish in color, and expands abruptly into the cup.[1]
The spores are elliptical, smooth, hyaline, devoid of oil droplets (eguttulate), and have dimensions of 13–18 × 7–9 µm.[2] The asci are 190–225 × 9–10 µm. The paraphyses are slightly club-shaped, unbranched, and have irregular orange-brown granules, with tips up to 5 µm wide, and are not forked or lobed. The hypothecium, the layer of cells below the hymenium, is made of densely packed, small irregular cells.[2]
This species is widespread on burned soil or charcoal in the spring and throughout the growing season.[2] It has been reported that this species produces fruiting bodies from 16 to 139 weeks after a forest fire, and that this production is associated with the presence of coniferous trees.[3]
The closely related vulcan elf cup (Geopyxis vulcanalis) has a yellow apothecium, and may be distinguished microscopically by the paraphyses which lack the orange-brown granules characteristic of G. carbonaria. Tazzetta cupularis, which grows in similar habitats, is distinguished microscopically by its spores which contain two oil droplets. Other genera with similar species with which Geopyxis carbonaria may be confused in the field include Aleuria, Caloscypha, Melastiza, and Sowerbyella.[4]