This species was originally described in 1780 by German mycologist Friedrich Heinrich Wiggers as Peziza hemisphaerica.

[5] The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word hemisphaericum, meaning half a sphere.

Humaria hemisphaerica has fruiting bodies (apothecia) that typically measure 5 to 30 millimetres (1⁄4 to 1+1⁄8 inches) in diameter by 1 to 1.5 cm (3⁄8 to 5⁄8 in) deep.

Jafnea semitotsa is larger (2–5 cm in diameter) with a brown interior and a short stipe.

[2] Chaetothiersia vernalis grows in a more disclike form, and Wilcoxina rehmii produces tiny discs.

[8] H. hemisphaerica grows year-round on North America's west coast[8] and is common in the Pacific Northwest;[9] further east, it fruits from July to October.