Elaphomyces granulatus

A hypogeous fungus, popularly known as "false truffle", globose, subglobose to ellipsoidal, up to 4 cm in diameter, brownish, with its entire surface densely covered in warts; in cross section it exhibits a hard, thin yellowish-ochre crust, beneath which lies a thick whitish fleshy layer enclosing the gleba where the spores are produced.

Peridial hyphae hyaline or with faint yellowish intracellular pigment, 3 to 5 µm wide, closely interwoven and thick-walled.

Asci very evanescent, with thin walls that disintegrate upon maturity; according to literature, globose, subglobose to pyriform, 35 to 55 µm long, 25 to 40 µm wide, containing four to eight spores inside.

Ascospores globose, dark brown at maturity, 23 to 33 µm in diameter, with their surface covered in coarse warts up to 4 µm high that coalesce to form short ridges.

Herbarium material available: JTP2795/26.