Truffle Genus: Sedecula
 Sedecula pulvinata basidiospore |
Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Basidiomycota Order: Agaricales Family: Sedeculaceae |
Spore Characters
Surface: Smooth.
Shape and Size: Longitudinally symmetric or sometimes irregular, but mostly ellipsoid to ovoid or fusoid to citriform, 20-30 x 13-17 µm; attachment straight, prominent.
Wall: single, 1-2 µm thick.
Color in Water: Brown to dark brown.
Melzer's Reaction: Not distinctive.
Comments: The large spores along with the thick, brown walls are distinctive among the Basidiomycota (i.e., spores with attachments to basidia); Ascomycotina often have large spores, but these lack attachments.
View photos of Sedecula spores
Sporocarp Characters
Shape and Size: Subglobose, globose, ellipsoid to pulvinate; 3-10 cm broad. Rhizomorphs extending from the basal region.
Peridium: White to gray, sometimes with yellow tints when young. Surface dry, smooth, tough, and leathery often appearing tomentose or fibrillose with age; thicker on top than below.
Gleba: Black, powdery at maturity, with white to gray veins extending inward from the peridium.
Odor: Not distinctive to unpleasant and strong when old.
View photos of Sedecula sporocarps