Elaphomyces muricatus
Syst. mycol. 3(1): 59. 1829.
Common Name: none
For descriptions see Konstantinidis & Kaounas, Peglar et al., & 'California Mushrooms'.
Solitary to scattered to gregarious, hypogeous under hardwoods (oak, tanbark oak, madrone), occasionally conifers; uncommon, fruiting from fall through winter in coastal forests.
Unknown.
Elaphomyces muricatus can be distinguished by its orangish brown to ochraceous fruitbodies with densely warted surface, very thick, mottled peridium, and a gleba that is initially white and cottony but at maturity is filled with powdery, blackish brown spores. It grows primarily with oaks and tanbark oak in coastal forests, although it has been collected with pine. The more common Elaphomyces granulatus differs in forming a nonmottled peridium, larger spores, and is usually associated with conifers in both coastal and montane forests. Tolypocladium capitatum and Tolypocladium ophioglossoides are parasitic on these two Elaphomyces species, forming club-shaped fruitbodies with elongated stipes that are attached to the buried false truffle. Both Tolypocladium species are rare in California, known from Sonoma County northward along the coast.
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Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Konstantinidis, G. & Kaounas, V. (2012). Elaphomyces muricatus and Fischerula macrospora, two interesting hypogeous fungi from Greece. Ascomycete.org 4(5): 95-98. (PDF)
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Montecchi, A. & Mario, S. (2000). Fungi Ipogei D'Europa. Associazione Micologica Bresadola: Trento, Italy. 714 p.
Pegler, D.N., Spooner, B.M. & Young, T.W.K. (1993). British Truffles: A Revision of British Hypogeous Fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens: Kew, England. 216 p.
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
Trappe, J.M., Molina, R., Luoma, D.L., Cázares, E., Pilz, D., Smith, J., Castellano, M.A., Miller, S.L. & Trappe, M.J. (2009). Diversity, Ecology, and Conservation of Truffle Fungi in Forests of the Pacific Northwest. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 194 p. (PDF)
