Truffle Genus: Leratiomyces

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

Spore Characters

Surface: Smooth.
Shape and Size: Slightly amygdaliform, 11.5-13 (-14.5) x 6.5-7.5(8) µm.
Wall: Thick.
Color in Water: Pale yellow brown.
Melzer's Reaction: None.
Comments:With an apical pore.

View photos of Leratiomyces spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Pileate but with unexpanded cap, 9-35 mm tall, 4.5-15 mm broad in cap.
Peridium: Fibrillose to scaly, yellowish to tan surface.
Gleba: Brown.
Odor: Mild.
Comments: Occurs in groups or clumps along edge of meadows in forested areas.

View photos of Leratiomyces sporocarps

Name Derivation

 Named by German mycologists Andreas Bresinsky (1935) and Manfred Binder in honor of French mycologist M. Le Rat.

Distribution

Truffle-like species found in meadows near forested areas in North America and in New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Season: Summer.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: One, L. cucullatus.

Keys and Descriptions

 Thiers and Watling (1971) describe the North American species as Weroroa cucullata.

References
Bresinsky, A. and Binder, M. 1998. Leratiomyces nom. nov. für eine bislang nicht gültíg beschreibene Gattung der Strophariaceae (Agaricales) aus Neukaledonien. Z. Mykol. 64:79-82.
Theirs, H.D., and Watling, R. 1971. Secotiaceous fungi from western United States. Madroño 21:1-9.