Truffle Genus: Paurocotylis

Paurocotylis pila ascospore

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

Spore Characters

Surface: Smooth.
Shape and Size: Globose, 17-23 µm.
Wall: Thin, single.
Color in Water: Hyaline.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive.

View photos of Paurocotylis spores

Sporocarp Characters

Shape and Size: Subglobose to pulvinate or irregular, 0.5-3 cm.
Peridium: Glabrous, orange-red to red. Composed of +/- isodiametric cells.
Gleba: One or multiple empty chambers, yellow to yellow-brown.
Odor: Not distinctive.

View photos of Paurocotylis sporocarps

Name Derivation

Named by British mycologist Miles Joseph Berkeley (1855) From Greek, Pauro- small and cotylis- cup, a small cup or container.

Distribution

Native to New Zealand. It was probably introduced to England on roots of ornamentals brought from New Zealand.
Species known from North Temperate Forests: One, P. pila.

Keys and Descriptions

Trappe (1979).