Penicillium bilaiae is a soilborne fungus able to solubilize mineral phosphates and enhance plant uptake of phosphate. Hence, it’s used to promote soil-bound phosphorous uptake in several crop species, such as wheat, canola and pulse crops. In the literature, it has also been referred to as Penicillium bilaii or Penicillium bilaji. An older name for this species is Penicillium lilacinoechinulatum. Although Penicillium bilaiae is widely distributed in soil it’s not commonly isolated.
The species name bilaiae was derived from Bilai, the Russian scientist (B. Bilai) after whom it was named.
Peziza domiciliana grows well on alkaline materials but can grow on anything that is porous and constantly moist such as wood, carpets, wallboard, furniture, fireplaces ashes, clothing, plaster, cement, sand, and coal dust. Mature Peziza domiciliana is a shiny yellowish tan inside and outside. Solitary cups are about 2 inches across or sometimes twice that. Often, a number of smaller, mutually compressed cups are found. These cup fungi have a rubbery texture and are large enough to pluck from carpets or baseboards with the fingers. If blown on with moist breath, spirals of faint puff of smoke composed of released ascospores can be seen.