Peziza whitei
Peziza whitei is a truffle like fungus found in leaf litter. It is identificable by its chambered, or tube like internal structure.
Partly because of the diversity of habitats and plants,Australia has a very diverse fungal flora and in particularthe truffles.
In all of Europe there are approximately 50 genera and 150 species of truffles. In Australia there are 85 genera described with some 300 species. Based on the rate at which new taxa are being found during recent surveys, the predicted numbers are closer to 110 genera and 900 species.
The truffle and truffle-like fruit body form has arisen several times in two quite different lineages of macrofungi:this is apparent in colour, shape, texture of fruit-bodies andmicroscopic characters. The ascomycetes or cup fungi andallies, produce spores inside a sac-like structure, the ascus. The term truffle applies to all ascomycetes with underground fruit bodies.
Peziza whitei looks like a cup fungi or paperplate crumpled up to form an irregular ball, white to cream coloured, with a hollow or chambered interior.
- Peziza whitei Actual size 2cms by 2cms. Strong sulphurous smell, sweet, unusual. Moist convoluted shape, in leaf litter,
