Truffle Genus: Rhodactina
 Rhodactina himalayensis basidispores |
Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Basidiomycota Order: Boletales Family: Boletaceae |
Spore Characters
Surface: Ornamented with longitudinal, unforked ridges with slightly rounded margins; the ridges range from 1-4 µm tall.
Shape and Size: Longitudinally symmetrical, subglobose to ovoid, 16-20 x 13-17.5 µm including ornamentation; sterigmal attachment distinct, short, truncate.
Wall: Single, 0.8-1.2 µm thick.
Color in Water: Red-purple.
Melzer's Reaction: Strongly dextrinoid.
Comments: Spores of Rhodactina spp. are distinctive among sequestrate fungi. They are always red-purple in contrast to the rusty brown to dark brown, ridged spores of Chamonixia spp., the pale colored, ridged spores of Gautieria and the brown to green colored, ridged spores of Austrogautieria.
Sporocarp Characters
Shape and Size: 1-3 cm broad, globose to short pyriform, usually with a small basal attachment.
Peridium: Present, off-white to drab gray, with white silky sheen, soon bruising brown-gray to black-brown.
Gleba: With small to prominent, irregular-angular chambers and lacking a columella; at first vinaceous soon becoming cinnamon drab to brown.
Odor: Not reported.