Tulostoma aff. cretaceum Long, Mycologia 36(4): 321. 1944.

Jeppson, Mikael, Altes, Alberto, Moreno, Gabriel, Nilsson, R. Henrik, Yolanda Loarce,, Bustos, Alfredo de & Larsson, Ellen, 2017, Unexpected high species diversity among European stalked puffballs - a contribution to the phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Tulostoma (Agaricales), MycoKeys 21, pp. 33-88 : 47

Tulostoma aff. cretaceum Long, Mycologia 36(4): 321. 1944. Figures 2c, 5 a–b

Remarks.

Clade 6 in our study encompasses some closely related taxa previously attributed to T. volvulatum I.G. Borshch. and T. obesum Cooke & Ellis (cfr. Hollós 1904, Altés et al. 1999, Rimóczi et al. 2011). The main characteristics are the rather large basidiomata with hyphal exoperidium and almost pure white endoperidium with an indistinct to fibrillose-fimbriate mouth (or irregular scar) that with age becomes lacerate. The stipe base is provided with a volva and a prominent pseudorhiza. The spores are smooth and the capillitium is fragile, breaking up in segments with rounded ends. In our material this complex is represented by collections from Hungary, Russia (Altay Republic), and Spain. They are recovered as closely related and can be considered as cryptic species with a strong geographical signal. In morphology they fit the original description of the American species T. cretaceum fairly well. The Spanish collections deviate from the Hungarian specimens in having a stouter habit.

Habitats and distribution.

Tulostoma cretaceum was originally described from New Mexico (USA) and later reported from Argentina ( Wright 1987) and Baja California, Mexico ( Moreno et al 1995b). There are recent records from Mexico (Sonora) and Brazil ( Esqueda et al. 2004, Silva et al. 2007). In Europe T. aff. cretaceum is found in sand steppe vegetation in Central Hungary and in calcareous steppe habitats in Spain.

Specimens examined.

HUNGARY, Bács-Kiskun: Fülöpháza, Fülöpházai Homokbuckák, in open sand in sand steppe vegetation, 13 Jun. 1999, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 4901 (GB): Ibidem, 11 Apr. 2006, T. Knutsson, T. Gunnarsson, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 7759 (GB)*; Keleshalom, Keleshalmi Borokás, in open sand in sand steppe vegetation, 18 Jun. 1997, S. Jeppson, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 3821 (GB)*; Pest: Örkény, former military training field, sand steppe vegetation, in open sand, 5 Nov. 2001, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 6103 (GB)*. RUSSIAN FEDERATION, Altay: Chuya River/Kuektanar River, 31 km W of Kosh-Agach on M52, 21 Aug. 2001, H. Knudsen 01.70n (a), (mixed collection; C)*. SPAIN, Ciudad Real: Parque Nac. Tablas de Daimiel, sobre terreno básico, 30 Apr. 1983, J.M. Barrasa (AH 3955, GB)*; Huelva, La Palma del Condado, calcareous pasture with Thymus sp., 1 Jan. 2003, S. Jeppson, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 6194 (GB)*; Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, cerros de Alcalá, gypsophilous steppe vegetation, 3 Mar. 2011, G. Moreno, A. Altés, A. Stridvall, E. Larsson, M. Jeppson 9304 (GB)*; Alcalá de Henares, Cerro Malvecino, terreno margoso con algo de yeso, 7 Nov. 1990, equipo micología UAH (AH 13672, GB)*.