Truffle Genus: Gilkeya

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascoomycota Order: Pezizales Family: Pyronemataceae

Spore Characters

Surface: Covered with rounded, hyaline warts.
Shape and Size: Globose, 28-43 x 25-38 µm, excluding ornamentation.
Wall: 1-3 µm thick hyaline.
Color in Water: Pale yellow.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive.
Comments:The spore ornamentation dissolves in KOH.

View photos of Gilkeya spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Subglobose to convoluted, hollow with an apical opening.
Peridium: Pink to vinaceous, warty.
Gleba: The hollouw lined with a tissue similar to peridium.
Odor: Not distinctive or mildly garlicky.
Comments: The color of the peridium distinguishes Gilkeya from the related Genea.

View photos of Gilkeya sporocarps

Name Derivation

 Named by M.E. Smith et al. (2006) in honor of Professor Helen Gilkey (1886-1972) who pioneered research on North American truffles.

Distribution

Oregon and Idaho, south to southern California and Mexico.

Season: March through August. Best months May and June.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: One, G. compacta.

Keys and Descriptions

 M.E. Smith et al. (2006).

Literature Cited

Smith, M.E., J.M. Trazze and D.M. Rizzo. 2006. Genea, Genabea, and Gilkeya gen. nov.: Ascomata and ectomycorrhiza formation in a Quercus woodland. Mycologia 98:699-716.