- 1. Spores produced on basidia [2]
- Spores produced in asci [4]
- 2. Chambers throughout the inner tissue containing spores of approximately the same age [3]
- Chambers in the inner tissues containing spores found at different stages of development Hymenogaster
- 3. Basidiospores brown or greenish brown under the microscope, and black in mass Melanogaster
- Basidiospores colourless or pale honey colour under the microscope and ochraceous in mass Rhizopogon
- 4. Asci globose, irregularly arranged within the fruit-body and quickly breaking down to shed the spores Elaphomyces
- Asci globose or club-shaped and arranged in fertile areas which do not rapidly break down to shed the spores Tuber & relatives
Basidiomycetes
Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Fries Red truffle
Description:
Fruit-body: globular to tubiform and up to 60 mm broad, partly covered in mycelial cords, dirty white, later reddish-tawny gradually reddish and finally olive-brown, it soon becomes tawny on bruising when fresh and young.
Spores: medium sized, narrowly ellipsoid, smooth at first, hyaline then pale olive under the microscope and measuring 8-11 × 4 µm.
Habitat & Distribution: This fungus is not uncommon on the edges of paths, in pine woods just pushing up through the soil surface.
Ascomycetes
Elaphomyces granulatus Fries Harts’ truffle
Description: