Truffle Genus: Gastrocybe

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Basidiomycota Order: Agaricales Family: Bolbitiaceae

Spore Characters

Surface: Smooth.
Shape and Size: Broadly ellipsoid, attachment and apical pore prominent, 7 x 12 (-14) µm.
Wall: Single, thin.
Color in Water: Yellow-brown.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive.
Comments: This genus differs from Galeropsis by the color of the spores and the epicutis of the sporocarp (R. Watling, 1968).

View photos of Gastrocybe spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Ellipsoid to conic, 5-25 (30) mm tall x 2-10 (15) wide. Stem present.
Peridium: Tacky and viscid, membranous, becoming a gelatinous mass that adheres to the stem. Pale chocolate brown, darkening at maturity.
Gleba: Anastomosed gills, rust-brown in color with an acute margin.
Odor: Not recorded.

View photos of Gastrocybe sporocarps

Name Derivation

Named by eminent British mycologist Roy Watling (1968), from Greek gaster, gastros "belly", referring to the cavity in which the spores are produced, and -cybe "head" referring to the pileus.

Distribution

North America in lawns or forestmeadows, solitary to gregarious.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: One.

Keys and Descriptions

R. Watling, 1968.