Truffle Genus: Gomphogaster

Gomphogaster sp.
basidiospore

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Order: Boletales
Family: Gomphidiaceae

Spore Characters

Generally similar to Brauniellula.

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Generally similar to Brauniellula and the above-ground genus Gomphidius.
Peridium: Red to vinaceous gray, dry.
Gleba: Gray to brown-gray, with minute chambers.
Odor: Not known.

Name Derivation

Derived from the mushroom genus Gomphidius and the Greek word -gaster (literally "stomach" but in mycology generally referring to Gasteromycetes, i.e. puffballs), hence the "Gomphidius puffball" (Miller, 1973). It is not, of course, a puffball, but a puffball-resembling mushroom.

Distribution

Known only from Idaho, U.S.A., in association with lodegpole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.), related to the mushroom genus Gomphidius.
Season: Summer.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: Only G. leucosarx (Singer and Smith) O.K. Miller, the sole species of the genus.

Keys and Descriptions

Smith and Singer (1958) describe it as Brauniellula leucosarx; O.K. Miller (1973) transferred it to Gomphogaster.