Dry Gasteromycete - Possible ID

Dear mycologists,

I kindly ask for help on this fungus, a Gasteromycte that I found in Malta in March 2021 on calcareous soil in a field with many organic debris of wild plants. It was a dry year with unexpected low rain in mid-January and February. I was suspecting about a Sarcosphaera sp. (coronaria / eximia?) that did not dehisce welI due to arid conditions. There were two other fruiting bodies that did split wide open. I collected the dry fungus and I can perform some further microscopical examination or chemical tests. Thank you.

Mycenastrum corium : love: Thank you. I got a short circuit thinking Sarcophaeria, when I saw the second set of images with flower-shaped dehiscence, I jumped to conclusions and forgot about the Gasteromycete! THANKS ! I try to show you the spores.

Here are the spores, spherical, variable in size, ranging between 10 to 16 um (average 12.2um) covered with distinct spines, up to 2um long, curved, conical and with a broad base like canines. I could not see well the capillitium, possibly decomposed, I would check again carefully if required. I have to mention that the fruiting bodies were about 4cm across (closed) and I don't know if this is too small for M. corium

I should also show you this pic, with the underground mycelium is rather extensive. Scleroderma can also be considered maybe.

Close up

I had examined the capillitium now. What I believe is the capillitium (not so sure!), consists of hyphae that are very narrow in diameter, 1-2um, jagged and irregular, not-spinulose, with blobs staining dark in congo red appearing like dalmatian spots. The issue here is that I may be seeing hyphae of a parasitic fungus (there are at least three different spores in the mash network, one looking like spores of Penicillium). The spores show some basal reticulation (affining with M. conium).

Would like to get opinions if these are capillitium or a branched micro fungus.

I have re-examined this collection two more times, but I fail to find a conspicuous capillitum. I must add that I am examining this 6 months from collection. When I transfer material on water (with surfactant) the spores are arranged on film-thin plates rather than on a distinct capillitium (in case this note is relevant).

I include some lo-res images of a mass of spores arranged as flakes or plates. My spore measurement included the ornamentation.

Wow Pablo !!!, really nice images - so envy at them!

I am excluding Mycenastrum corium too, and checking a number of Scleroderma species, like cepa, polyrhizum, albidum, etc. Do you think my spore are reticulaete?

Zitat von Beorn

Hi.

Difficult, because: I dont know the word for "kurzgratig" at the moment.

But this is not reticulate. More like "confluent warts" maybe?

I must admit, that i don't know anything about scleroderma, so i cannt help with the identification, i'm afraid.

LG; Pablo.

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Thank you, I also think the lines seen in a few spores are some kind of spines that are horizontal or joined with other spines.

Finally, after several considerations, I think I am up to a conclusion. I found a good description of S. albidum and many features are matching, namely the spore size, ornamentation, lack of capillitum, size, colour and texture of basidioma.... I think this is the species for the Scleroderma I found unless there is another one closely related.

The second preference is S. cepa, but the spores are smaller, the basidiomata are yellower in colour and the texture is not a particularly good match to my collection.

I also came accross Scleroderma meridionale Demoul. and it has resemblances, Does anyone has experience with this species. I can't find a good description although here is something to start with:

Scleroderma septentrionale (MushroomExpert.Com)

Same as septentrionale but:

Spines 1-2um = TRUE (in my examining specimen)

Yellowish Rhizomorphic Stem = TRUE

Southern Distribution = TRUE

and also

Fruiting Body: 2.5-6 cm across = TRUE

Stem measuring 5-10 cm = Not that long

Spores 8-16 um = TRUE

Spores reticulate = Assumable not so my specimen

Spore Mass: Fleshy and white at first, becoming purplish brown, then black and dust-like. = Medium brown but not blackish

Habitat sand dune = No so, but soil, rather clayey.

So at present it is S. albidum versus S. meridionale.