''Cookeina speciosa'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

in the family

Sarcoscyphaceae The ''Sarcoscyphaceae'' are a family of cup fungi in the order Pezizales. Members of the Sarcoscyphaceae are cosmopolitan in distribution, found in both tropical and temperate regions. Genera A 2008 estimate placed 13 genera and 102 species in t ...

Description

''Cookeina speciosa'' is the most common species of its genus. Its colours vary. Colour variants are white over yellow, pinkish red, yellow-orange, and orange to chocolate brown colour apothecia. The species can be found both in isolation and in group.

Taxonomy

The fungus was originally described in 1822 by

Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist. Career Fries was born at Femsjö (Hylte Municipality), Småland, the son of the pastor there. He attended school in Växjö. He acquired ...

, as ''Peziza speciosa''.

Richard William George Dennis Richard William George Dennis, PhD (13 July 1910 – 7 June 2003), was an English mycologist and plant pathologist. Background and education Dennis was born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, the son of a schoolmaster. He was educated at Thorn ...

transferred it to the genus ''

Cookeina ''Cookeina'' is a genus of cup fungi in the family Sarcoscyphaceae, members of which may be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Species may be found on fallen branches of angiosperms, trunks, and sometimes on fruits.Weinstein ...

'' in 1994. The genus ''

'' is named after Mordecai Cubitt Cooke

References

Sarcoscyphaceae Taxa named by Elias Magnus Fries Fungi described in 1822 Fungi of South America Fungus species {{Pezizomycetes-stub