An example of a character is color of hymenial surface, some possible states include red, yellow, brown, and black. The master data set for the genera of the Pezizales at present includes 52 character fields of which 34 are used in the Genus-Finder.
Genera vary in the number of characters they express.
Common English terms are used when possible to describe shapes and parts of the ascocarps. A glossary of terms used in the Genus-Finder is presented elsewhere in PezWeb. If an good introductory mycology textbook is not available for reference an unabridged dictionary should include many of these terms. Ascocarp characters 2. In effect it is the presence or absence of a stipe.