Phellorinia herculeana subsp. herculeana (Pers.) Kreisel, 1961(Pers.) Kreisel, ČeskáMykol. 15:196 (1961) Fig. 2

MycoBank number: MB 427863; Index Fungorum number: IF 427863; Facesoffungi number: FoF 09746;

Medium sized puffballs were found solitary or in groups on sand dunes and in sandy places. Fruiting body – 7–8 cm in diameter, sporophore consisting of a big round to globose head which is the spore- bearing closed structure. Peridium – white, covered with large imbricate scales. Endoperidium – thin and finally breaking up across the flattened apical surface to expose the gleba. Stipe – 7–13 cm × 1.5–4.5 cm, solid, fleshy. Fibrous, white, equal but slightly swollen towards the base. Spores – 6–7 µm, globose, finely verrucose or covered with fine, closely arranged echinulations.

Ecology and distributionPhellorinia herculeana subsp. herculeana (=Phellorinia inquinans) was reported earlier by Doshi & Sharma (1997) and Sharma et al. (2015). According to Bohra et al. (2001), this species is distributed in western Rajasthan (India). It has been reported by various researchers from different regions of the world including Pakistan (Ahmad 1952), Australia (Fuhrer 2005, Williams &Woinarski 1997), Spain and Yemen (Kreisel & Fatimi 2004). P.herculeana subsp. herculeana grows abundantly in rainy season on sand dunes. Soil characteristics of natural growing sites of this species have been studied by Manikandan et al. (2011). Accordingly, it appeared in infertile, sandy soils in which organic matter content was reported to be very poor but needed better aeration and well drained soil conditions.

Specimens examined– JNV/Mycl/150 on 30 July 2017 in zone IA, IC and IIb of survey area on sand dunes and in sandy places by Reenu Chouhan, 25°45’0.00″N 71°22’48.00″E Barmer, elevation:227 m (745 ft),28°01’3.43″N 73°18’53.82″E Bikaner, elevation:242 m (794 ft)26°55’3.47″N70°54′ 13.93″E Jaisalmer, elevation: 225 m (738 ft),28°18′ 0.00″N74°57’0.00″E Churu, elevation:292 m (958 ft), 26°16’6.28″N73°00’21.38″E Jodhpur, elevation:231 m (758 ft)25°20’44.09″N72°36’56.12″E Jalore, elevation: 178 m (584 ft), 25°46’12.00″N73°19’48.00″E Pali, elevation: 214 m (702 ft), 24°53’18.17″N72°50’52.58″E Sirohi, elevation:321 m (1,053 ft).

NotePhellorinia herculeana subsp. herculeana commonly known as ‘marukhumbhi’ among the local people is an edible gasteroid fungus growing in the semi-arid and arid areas of Rajasthan Doshi& Sharma (1997). The fruiting body of this mushroom possesses a smooth round globose head and is called ‘scaly’form of Phellorinia in comparison to the ‘warty’ appearance of P. herculeana subsp. strobilina (Bottomley 1948). It appears individually or in groups during the rainy season particularly after flashes of lightning.

a

b

Fig. 2–a Fruiting body of Phellorinia herculeana subsp. herculeana on sand dunes in natural conditions. b Spores. Scale bar: a = 5 cm, b = 20 µm.