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Basement pepper (Peziza cerea) or wax pepper is an interesting in appearance mushroom from the family Pezizaceae and the genus Pezitsa. It was first described by James Sowerby, an English naturalist in 1796. Its other synonyms:
- peziza vesiculosa var. Ask;
- macroscyphus cereus;
- basement pustulary;
- basement cup, from 1881;
- wall-mounted or integumentary cup, wooden, from 1907;
- galactinia integumentary or basement, since 1962;
- geopyxis muralis, с 1889 г;
- wall or cover plate, from 1875
What does a basement pezitsa look like?
At a young age, fruiting bodies have a domed shape in the form of a cognac glass with a serrated edge. Sedentary, attached to the substrate with the lower part of the cap or rudimentary stem. With age, the correct inverted sphere becomes curved-wavy, broken, flattened. Often opens to a saucer-shaped or prostrate state. The edge becomes uneven, torn.
The size of the bowl is from 0,8 to 5-8 cm in diameter. Hymenium – inner surface – lacquer-shiny, waxy. External – rough, covered with small adjoining flakes-grains. Color cream, beige-golden, honey, brownish-yellow, ocher. The pulp is brittle, white or coffee with milk. Spore powder is white or slightly yellowish.
Mushroom resembles bizarre flower buds
Where and how to grow
This variety is ubiquitous, especially found in America and Europe. Able to grow and develop in closed damp rooms during all seasons. In the open air, it begins to develop with the onset of warm days and until frost.
Likes damp shady places. Cellars, abandoned houses and gullies, rotting plant remains and manure. Feels great on a wet solution, between road slabs, on rotting rags, sandbags.
Basement pezitsa is able to exist on vertical concrete walls, fragments of boards and other building materials
Is the mushroom edible or not?
It is classified as inedible species due to its low nutritional value. The pulp has an unpleasant damp basement smell mixed with mushroom.
The jagged edge of the “cups” has a distinct dark, as if burnt, border
Twins and their differences
Petsitsa basement resembles individual representatives of its species, but is easily determined by its habitat – cellars.
Bubble pepper. Conditionally edible. It has a yellowish-cream color, its edges are without pronounced teeth.
This species grows up to 7 cm in diameter and has tough, tasteless and odorless flesh.
Conclusion
Basement or wax pepper settles in warm, humid places. Inedible, no toxicity data found, has a twin. He likes closed underground rooms, abandoned wooden buildings, cellars. Able to live on burlap and rags, on plywood and dung heaps, at the joints of slabs and house foundations. It grows everywhere, from May to October, and in warm rooms – all year round.
