Truffle Genus: Leucangium

Leucangium carthusianum ascospore

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Order: Pezizales Family: Morchellaceae

Spore Characters

Surface: Smooth.
Shape and Size: Elongate-citriform, 60-90 x 20-35 µm.
Wall: Single, 1-2 µm thick.
Color in Water: Hyaline to pale greenish yellow, olive or brown.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive.

View photos of Leucangium spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Subglobose to ellipsoid, 2-4 cm in diameter.
Peridium: Black, smooth to verrucose.
Gleba: White with spore-bearing pockets separated by white to brownish veins.
Odor: Fruity to spicy or wine-like.

View photos of Leucangium sporocarps

Name Derivation

Named by French mycologist, Lucien Quélet (1832-1899) (1883) from Greek, Leuco- white and -angion vessel, receptacle, perhaps in reference to the white gleba of young specimens.

Distribution

In forests in Northwestern U.S. and Europe with Pseudotsuga, Abies, Picea, and Fagus.

Season: Autumn and winter.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: One, L. carthusianum plus at least two others as yet undescribed.

Keys and Descriptions

L. carthusianum is described by Montecchi and Sarasini (2000).

Trappe, M.J., J.M. Trappe and G.M. Bonito. 2010. Kalapuya brunnea sp. nov., and its relationship to the other sequestrate genara in Morchellaceae. Mycologia 102: 1058-1065.