Truffle Genus: Cazia
 Cazia flexiascus ascospore |
Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Order: Pezizales Family: Pezizaceae |
Spore Characters
Surface: Incompletely and minutely warty-reticulate.
Shape and Size: 11-16 x 10-12 µm, globose, subglobose to ellipsoid.
Wall: 1-1.5 µm thick, weakly cyanophilic.
Color in Water: Hyaline.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive, immature spores dextrinoid.
Comments: This genus differs from Fischerula, Hydnotrya, and Dingleya by its hyaline, minutely ornamented spores, peculiar asci, and strong reaction of the fresh gleba to KOH. The crooked asci of Cazia are novel (Trappe, 1989).
View photos of Cazia spores
Sporocarp Characters
Shape and Size: Subglobose with minor lobes and furrows, 3-5 cm in diameter, typically erumpent.
Peridium: White pruinose patches over pale violet (lavender), otherwise glabrous. Faint yellow-brown patches may also be present. Fading to pale purple-gray or darkening after handling to shades of gray-purple-brown.
Gleba: Pale violet, marbled with white veins radiating from a basal pad. Rapid and strong yellow-green reaction to KOH.
Odor: Faintly pungent, sweet, yeasty, fruity, linseed oil.
View photos of Cazia sporocarps