Tatraea macrospora

Scientific name:   Tatraea macrospora (Peck) Baral
Derivation of name:  Macro means "large" or "long"
and spora refers to a "seed (spore)." The ascospores of
this species are quite long.
Synonyms:  Ciboria peckiana (Cooke) Korf; Peziza
peckiana Cooke; Calycina macrospora (Peck) Seaver
Common name(s): 
Phylum:   Ascomycota
Order:   Helotiales
Family:   Helotiaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; gregarious
on rotten wood; summer through fall.
Dimensions: The stalked to almost sessile, discoid cups
are up to 1 cm wide and up to 1 cm high on stalks with
diameters of about 1 mm.
Sterile outer surface:  Same as fertile surface in color
and in other aspects.
Fertile inner surface:  Ashy-grey to yellowish-brown;
concave to nearly flat.
Edibility: Not edible.
Comments: My photographs were taken of specimens
collected and placed on display at the 2007 NEMF foray
in Orono, Maine.


Figure 1. Tatraea macrospora on pieces of rotting wood.
Photo © Gary Emberger.
    

Figure 2. Cluster of Tatraea macrospora fruitbodies.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 3. The fertile surface of the larger specimen is
almost flat. Photo © John Plischke III.

Figure 4. Fruit bodies are concave when young and flatten-
out as they mature. The outer and inner surfaces are
concolorous. Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 5. These stalked specimens are about 1 cm tall on
stalks about 1 mm thick. Photo © Gary Emberger.