The Sclerodermataceae are a family of fungi in the order Boletales, containing several genera of unusual fungi that little resemble boletes. Taxa, which include species commonly known as the ‘hard-skinned puffballs’, ‘earthballs’, or 'earthstars', are widespread in both temperate and tropical regions. The best known members include the earthball Scleroderma citrinum, the dye fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and the 'prettymouths' of the genus Calostoma.
Leratiomyces ceres, commonly known as the chip cherry or redlead roundhead, is mushroom which has a bright red to orange cap and dark purple-brown spore deposit. It is usually found growing gregariously on wood chips and is one of the most common and most distinctive mushrooms found in that habitat. It is common on wood chips and lawns in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. The name Stropharia aurantiaca has been used extensively but incorrectly for this mushroom.
Gymnopilus purpuratus is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. It grows in clusters on dead wood, tree stumps and wood chip mulch. It is widely distributed and has been recorded in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, the UK and Germany. It has a broadly convex cap covered in small dry reddish-brown scales, a stout yellow stem beneath reddish brown, wine-red to purple vertical fibres, and a thick rusty orange spore print.
Calostoma is a genus of 29 species of gasteroid fungi in the suborder Sclerodermatineae. Like other gasteroid fungi, Calostoma do not have the spore discharge mechanism associated with typical gilled fungi (ballistospory), and instead have enclosed spore-bearing structures. Resembling round puffballs with raised, brightly colored spore openings (ostioles), elevated on a thick, gelatinous stalks, species have been collected in regions of deciduous, temperate, tropical or subtropical forests. Their distribution includes eastern North America, Central America, Asia, and Australasia. The common name given to some species, "prettymouth", alludes to the brightly colored raised openings (ostioles) that may somewhat resemble lips. Other common names include "hotlips" and "puffball in aspic".
Stamnaria is a genus of fungi in the family Helotiaceae. The genus contains at least 7 species, all of which are parasites of horsetails, reproducing through apothecia which burst through the outer surface of the hosts. It has an anamorph with genus name Titaeospora, but according to current rules the holomorph name Stamnaria should be used where possible.
Cymatoderma is a widely distributed genus of poroid fungi in the family Meruliaceae.
Phaeothyriolum is a genus of fungi in the Microthyriaceae family.
Disciseda is a genus of gasteroid fungi in the family Agaricaceae. It is a widely distributed genus that is prevalent in arid zones. Disciseda was circumscribed by mycologist Vassiliĭ Matveievitch Czernajew in 1845.
Amaurodon is a genus of fungi in the family Thelephoraceae. Most species in the genus have resupinate and corticioid fruit bodies that grow on rotting wood. The hymenophore may have pores, teeth, or be smooth, and is typically blue to green in color.
Conidiosporomyces is a genus of fungi in the smut family Tilletiaceae. The genus was described in 1992 to accommodate the species formerly known as Tilletia ayresii, first described by British naturalist Miles Joseph Berkeley in 1899. The species C. verruculosus was described in 1993. Species in the genus are plant pathogens that affect various grasses.
George Edward Massee was an English mycologist, plant pathologist, and botanist.
Podoserpula is a genus of fungi in the family Amylocorticiaceae. The genus contains six species including the type species, P. pusio, commonly known as the pagoda fungus. Species of the genus Podoserpula produce fruit bodies consisting of up to a dozen caps arranged in overlapping shelves, attached to a central axis. Its unique shape is not known to exist in any other fungi. The genus is known to occur in Australia and New Zealand, Venezuela, Madagascar, and New Caledonia.
Protoglossum is a genus of fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. Protoglossum was circumscribed by George Edward Massee in 1891.
Mycena olivaceomarginata is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae. Originally described as Agaricus olivaceomarginata by English mycologist George Edward Massee in 1890, he transferred it to Mycena in 1893. Found in Europe and North America, the mycelium of the fungus is bioluminescent.
Calostoma cinnabarinum, commonly known as the stalked puffball-in-aspic,gelatinous stalked-puffball, or red slimy-stalked puffball, is a species of gasteroid fungus in the family Sclerodermataceae, and is the type species of the genus Calostoma. The fruit body has a distinctive color and overall appearance, featuring a layer of yellowish jelly surrounding a bright red, spherical head approximately 2 centimeters (0.8 in) in diameter atop a red or yellowish brown spongy stipe 1.5 to 4 cm tall. The innermost layer of the head is the gleba, containing clear or slightly yellowish elliptical spores, measuring 14–20 micrometers (μm) long by 6–9 μm across. The spore surface features a pattern of small pits, producing a net-like appearance. A widely distributed species, it grows naturally in eastern North America, Central America, northeastern South America, and East Asia. C. cinnabarinum grows on the ground in deciduous forests, where it forms mycorrhizal associations with oaks.
Calostoma fuhreri is a species of gasteroid fungus in the family Sclerodermataceae. Found in Australia, the original specimens were collected by mycologist Bruce Fuhrer, for whom the species is named. Fruit bodies grow to 28 mm (1.1 in) tall, and comprise a pseudostipe that is 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long by 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) thick and supports a roughly spherical peridium. Atop the peridium is an irregular stoma (opening) that is red on the inside. Inside the peridium is a white gleba that consists of spores, basidia, and broken hyphae. The spores are oblong to elliptical, hyaline (translucent), and typically measure 20–26 by 9–11 μm.
Tylopilus funerarius is a bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae. Found in Singapore, it was described as new to science in 1909 by English mycologist George Edward Massee. He described it as a "sombre, uninviting species, characterised by brownish-black velvety pileus and brown tube and pores", and considered it similar in appearance to Boletus chrysenteron. The species was transferred to the genus Tylopilus in 1981.
Termitomyces umkowaan is a species of agaric fungus in the family Lyophyllaceae. Found in South Africa, it was described as new to science in 1889 by Mordecai Cubitt Cooke and George Edward Massee from collections made in Durban. Cooke noted that was "called Umkowaan by the natives, and is delicious when cooked, much superior to the common mushroom." Derek Reid transferred the fungus to the genus Termitomyces in 1975.
Hypholoma brunneum is a species of mushroom in the family Strophariaceae. It was originally described in 1899 by George Edward Massee as Flammula brunnea. Derek Reid transferred it to the genus Hypholoma in 1954.
Cerocorticium molle is a species of crust fungus in the family Meruliaceae.
