Truffle Genus: Barssia

Barssia oregonensis ascospore

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Order: Pezizales Family: Helvellaceae

Spore Characters

Barssia oregonensis and the undescribed species sort out with Balsamia and Geopora species in the key in this publication. Barssia yezo-montana (Kob.) Trappe of Japan, known only from the type collection, may sort out with Hydnocystis in the key (see comments under Balsamia).

View photos of Barssia spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Subglobose in some with an apical or lateral cavity or numerous, scattered pits, 1-4 cm in diameter.
Peridium: Smooth to irregular, brown-pink to brown.
Gleba: White, solid except for narrow veins that emerge at sporocarp cavity or pits.
Odor: Not distinctive.

View photos of Barssia sporocarps

Name Derivation

Named by distinguished mycologist Dr. Helen Gilkey (1886-1972) (1925) in honor of the Oregon botanist who first collected the first specimens, Professor H. P. Barss.

Distribution

Barssia oregonensis is associated with ectomycorrhizae of Pseudotsuga menziesii in western North America. B. yezo-montana is known from only one collection in Japan, and an undescribed species has been collected once under Quercus spp. near San Francisco, California.
Season: Spring and summer.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: At least three, one or more of which are undescribed.

Keys and Descriptions

Barssia oregonensis is described by Gilkey (1925, 1954), and B. yezo-montana by Kobayasi (1937, as Phymatomyces yezo-montanus).