Gautieria monticola (Harkn.) Harkn.
no common name
Gomphaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
no common name
Gomphaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
Photograph
Species Information
Summary:
Features include 1) an irregularly lobed, brown fruitbody with a thin outer layer that soon wears away to expose the cavities of the firm, rubbery, ochraceous-tawny to grayish brown spore mass, 2) often a mycelial cord at base, 3) a distinct, slender, branching columella, 4) a strong odor when old, 5) a location underground or on the ground under mountain conifers, and 6) microscopic characters including spores measuring 10-15 x 6-9 microns with 7-10 longitudinal or oblique ridges, and basidia that are mostly 2-spored. It is abundant among false truffles in the Pacific Northwest.
Interior:
spore mass when fresh firm, rubbery, crisp, not fragile; ocher brown to rusty brown to dull cinnamon to dull brown at maturity; composed of numerous irregularly shaped cavities, 0.05-0.3cm, (Arora), "ochraceous-tawny" to grayish brown; cavities small, empty, (Dodge), firm, rubbery; cinnamon-colored "with cartilaginous veins and an inconspicuous to distinct white to translucent columella", (Trappe, M.(3))
Odor:
often strong when old, sometimes of decaying onions, (Arora), very strong when old, like sour milk, (Miller), sweet-oily, may become nauseating, (Trappe, M.(3))
Taste:
mild (Miller)
Microscopic:
spores 10-15 x 6-9 microns, elliptic, longitudinally grooved, rusty-brown to ocher-brown under the microscope, (Arora), spores 9-13 x 6.5-8 microns, elliptic to oboval, "with 7-10 longitudinal or oblique striations, sometimes slightly warted", "ochraceous-tawny", with one to several droplets; basidia mostly 2-spored, "arising from erect, septate hyphae 16 x 6-7 microns, ovoid", sterigmata "filiform, 7-10 microns long"; septa 120-400 microns thick, colorless, "composed of more or less gelified hyphae parallel with the hymenial surface"; "peridium or rather the outer portion of the gleba 140-160 microns thick, composed of hyphae with greatly gelified walls enclosing dirt in the outer portion", (Dodge), spores 10-16 x 7-9 microns, elongate lemon-shaped with longitudinal ridges (Trappe, M.(3))
Notes:
Distribution in the Pacific Northwest is from BC to northern CA (Trappe(13)). It is common in the mountains of the western United States (Trappe, M.(3)). It has been reported to Oregon Truffling Society for BC and OR, and by J. Smith et al. from OR. Paul Kroeger deposited a collection from BC at the University of British Columbia.
EDIBILITY
edible according to some, but rubbery, (Arora)
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
About 15 other Gautieria species in the Pacific Northwest are due to be described by States and Fogel, including Gautieria angustispora States & Fogel nom. prov. (Trappe(13)). Gautieria angustispora nom. prov. is a common member of the G. monticola complex in Idaho and Montana but less so in Oregon and Washington where G. monticola does indeed predominate (J. States, pers. comm. on http://www.fungaljungal.org/truffle.htm).Habitat
single, scattered or in groups or clusters, sometimes partially exposed at maturity, in duff under conifers, especially mountain conifers, late spring through early fall, (Arora), on the ground under conifers (Dodge), associated with Pseudotsuga (Douglas-fir), Tsuga (hemlock), Pinus (pine), Abies (fir); March to November (Trappe, M.(3))
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Hydnum ciliolatum Berk. & M.A. Curtis
Hymenogaster monticolus Harkn.
Odontia ciliolata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) L.W. Mill.