Truffles


Most people will have heard of the European gourmet truffles, fungal fruitbodies that develop underground. Those species do not occur naturally in Australia, but have been introduced. However, Australia is rich in native fungi that produce produce fruitbodies in similar ways. Some people would confine use of the word truffle to the European gourmet species and insist on everything else being called truffle-like. However, many use the word truffle in a broad sense, to include anything that is truffle-like. In technical works you will also see the phrases hypogeous fungi or sequestrate fungi applied to truffles.

 

In general, truffles are found wholly underground or at least partially buried – but some appear on soil and there are even a few stalked truffles. Most truffles are more or less spherical or ellipsoid (albeit sometimes with irregular bumps) and, unless you look inside, you may think you have an immature puffball or stinkhorn. From the outside a stalked truffle could be mistaken for an immature mushroom, with the  stem developed but the cap not yet open. Cut a truffle open and you will usually see numerous tiny chambers within, either empty or filled (depending on species).


Truffles

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7 Mar 2025

Since 1 Jan 2025, NatureMapr 44% of all sightings uploaded were NSW based, while 43% were from the ACT.The remaining 13% were from other states, with VIC coming in third at 5%.Strictly speaking, 67% o...


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Discussion

Heino1 wrote:
30 Sep 2024
Probably - unless anyone else can offer an explanation of this sighting.

Truffles
LyndalT wrote:
27 Sep 2024
Should we remove the sighting do you think?

Truffles
Heino1 wrote:
26 Sep 2024
My thought about this being non-fungal was prompted by there seeming to be virtually no change from 10 Aug to 24 Sept. I cannot say for sure what this is but the broken end between the fingers looks like wood so this might be some abnormal woody growth (like a woody tumour or canker). Moving away from the fingers you see a flat, featureless, white growth over the surface - possibly one of the so-called paint or skin fungi (or corticioid fungi to give the technical name) that grow on dead wood and for which it's impossible to offer an ID just from a photo. Naturally, I could still be wrong.

Truffles
LyndalT wrote:
26 Sep 2024
You think what then?

Truffles
Heino1 wrote:
26 Sep 2024
The new photos make me wonder if this is in fact fungal.

Truffles
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