Tulostoma melanocyclum Bres., in Petri, Ann. Mycol. 2(5): 415. 1904.

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 : 56-57

Tulostoma melanocyclum Bres., in Petri, Ann. Mycol. 2(5): 415. 1904. Figure 2i

Holotype.

ITALY: in glabrosis prope Tridentinum, 1902, G. Bresadola (K).

This species is closely related to T. squamosum , T. subsquamosum , and the new species T. calcareum . It is distinguished by its dark brown to almost black stipe and a prominent dark peristome contrasting to the pale colours of the surrounding endoperidium in old and weathered specimens. In young basidiomata the endoperidium is more or less orange brown and the stem ± orange brown. The spores are verrucose-echinate and normally lack anastomoses and crests as seen under SEM (Figure 2i). It can be readily distinguished from T. brumale , which often grows in the same locations, by its darker stem and the more coarsely ornamented spores. Photos of the holotype collection at K (habit and spore ornamentation under SEM) were included in Altés et al. (1996).

Habitat and distribution.

Grows in dry sandy grasslands, on sand dunes, sand steppes and rupicolous steppe slopes. According to Wright (1987) it is a typically European species. It is, however, also recorded from Central Asia ( Dörfelt and Täglich 1990). It is widespread in Europe, reaching as far north as southernmost Fennoscandia.

Specimens examined.

BELGIUM, W. Vlanderen: Westhoek, 1 Nov. 2012, E. Hultqvist, E. Larsson, M. Jeppson 9618 (GB). CZECH REPUBLIC, Pavlovské vrchy: Děvin, 27 Jun. 2008, M. Jeppson 8839 (GB). DENMARK, Jylland: Kjul Å, 3 Aug. 1906, J. Lind (C). Jylland: Uggerby Å, 29 Dec. 1980, T. Læssøe (C). FRANCE, Nord-France-Pas de Calais: Etaples, Baie de la Canche, littoral sand dunes, 31 Oct. 2012, E. Hultqvist, E. Larsson, M. Jeppson 9596 (GB)*. HUNGARY, Bács-Kiskun: Kunbaracs, Csaradas, sand steppe vegetation, 2 Nov. 2002, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 6014 (GB); Kunbaracs, sand steppe vegetation, 1 Aug. 2008, L. Nagy, M. Jeppson 8815 (GB)*; Orgovány, Orgoványi rétek, Stipeto-festucetum on calcareous sand, 18 Apr. 2009, M. Jeppson 8974 (GB)*; Pest: Örkény, military training field, sand steppe vegetation, 2 Nov. 2002, J. Jeppson, M. Jeppson 6036 (GB)*. RUSSIAN FEDERATION, Irkutskaya obl.: Baykal Lake, Olkhon Island, Cape Unschuy, 15 Sept. 2000, H. Knudsen 00.314 (C)*. SLOVAKIA, Nítra: Štitáre, 29 Jun. 2009, S. Adamčik, M. Jeppson 9116 (GB); Malé Karpaty, Devinská Kobyla, Sandberg, V. Kautman, 22 Nov. 2009 (BRA); Podunajská nížina: Marcelova, Marcelovské Piesky, 25 Jun. 2011, I. Kautmanová, V. Kautman, M. Jeppson 9331 (GB). SWEDEN, Öland: Lopperstad, sandstäpp med Carex ligerica , 29 May 2005, A. Bohlin, K. Bohlin 050529 (GB)*; Skåne: Brösarp, Brösarps norra backar, 15 Dec. 2001, I. Månsson 011215 (GB)*; Degeberga, Söndre klack, 13 Mar. 2016, Ö. Fritz (GB); Maglehem, Kumlans NR, stäppartad torräng, 15 Dec. 2008, S. Hanson 2008-247 (GB)*.