Tarzetta bronca

[ Ascomycetes > Pezizales > Pyronemataceae > Tarzetta . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Tarzetta bronca is a yellowish, goblet-shaped cup fungus that probably requires a microscope for certain identification; see the key to cup fungi for details. It looks rather like a species of Peziza, but its ascus tips do not turn blue in Melzer's reagent. The similar Tarzetta catinus has a fairly prominent stemlike structure, while Tarzetta cupularis is similar but smaller.

Tazzetta bronca is a synonym.

Description:

Ecology: Uncertain; one recent investigation (Tedersoo and collaborators, 2006) suggests that at least some species of Tarzetta are mycorrhizal; growing alone, gregariously, or in small clusters; terrestrial; found under conifers or hardwoods; summer; widely distributed in North America.

Fruiting Body: Goblet-shaped from youth to maturity; 1-4 cm across; upper/inner surface smooth, creamy to yellowish, yellow, or occasionally olive buff; outer surface hairy to mealy or granular; creamy to yellowish or yellow; the margin often densely hairy or jagged; usually without a stem or pseudostem, but occasionally with a pinched-together base; odor not distinctive; flesh pale.

Microscopic Features: Spores elliptical; smooth; hyaline; of two types, according to Kanouse (1950): 20-24 x 12-13 µ, with 1-2 large oil droplets; and 12-14 x 8-9 µ, with 2 small oil droplets (my collection demonstrated this "heterosporous condition," but I also noticed spores intermediating between the two types). Paraphyses variable: with slightly thickened tips, with lobed or forked tips, or with hydra-like tips. Tips of asci not bluing in Melzer's reagent.

REFERENCES: (Peck, 1875) Korf & J.K. Rogers, 1971. (Saccardo, 1889; Seaver, 1928; Kanouse, 1950; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981.) Herb. Kuo 05120703, 06100801.

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2007, August). Tarzetta bronca. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/tarzetta_bronca.html.