DISCUSSION OF THE OPERCULATE DISCOMYCETES

The class Pezizomycetes takes its name from the genus Peziza. The species of Peziza growing among dead leaves in the picture at left is typical of the genus: its apothecia are large, fleshy and purple to brown. Peziza and other genera of operculate discomycetes have always been viewed as a well-defined group that are easily recognized and modern studies seem to confirm this.

For convenience the Pezizomycetes can be further subdivided. From a practical, and to some degree factual, standpoint we can recognize three groups:

1. Species with sessile apothecia, those that lack a stalk or stipe. This would include the families Ascobolaceae, Aleuriaceae, Humariaceae, Pezizaceae, Sarcoscyphaceae, Sarcosomataceae and probably some others

2. Species with stiptate or stalked apothecia, principally the families Helvellaceae and Morchellaceae

3. The truffles. Truffles are operculate discomycetes that produce subterranean enclosed apothecia.

Some species may be intermediate between these groups and some genera may have both sessile and stipitate apothecia, but mostly this division will be easy to recognize in the field. The most notable exception is with the family Sarcoscyphaceae. Although most species from temperate regions have sessile ascomata the tropical species may be strongly stipitate.