Sedecula pulvinata
Mycologia 33: 213. 1941.
Common Name: none
For descriptions see Castellano et al., Siegel et al., Zeller & 'California Mushrooms'.
Solitary to scattered, subhypogeous under montane conifers; rare, fruiting from late spring through fall in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges.
Unknown.
Sedecula pulvinata is a rare, peculiar false truffle endemic to California. An unusual feature is a white to gray peridium that is thick over the often exposed upper surface but thinner and evanescent on the lower surface, exposing the spore-filled chambers to the soil. Moreover, the thick, worm-like, sterile partitions that divide the powdery black chambers are unique. It is the only known species in the genus. The phylogenetic affinities of Sedecula are in the Coniophoraceae (Coniophora is a genus of resupinate basidiomycete crusts e.g. Coniophora olivacea).
Castellano, M.A., Smith, J.E., O'Dell, T., Cázares, E. & Nugent, S. (1999). Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 195 p. (PDF)
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Thiers, H.D. (1979). New and Interesting Hypogeous and Secotioid Fung from California. Sydowia Beih. 8: 381-390.
Trappe, M.J., Smith, M.E. & Hobbie, E.A. (2015). Exploring the phylogenetic affiliations and the trophic mode of Sedecula pulvinata (Sedeculaceae). Mycologia 107(4): 688-696.
Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. & Ikeda, D. (2019). A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California's National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p. (PDF)
Zeller, S.M. (1941). Further notes on fungi. Mycologia 33: 196-214. (Protologue)
