Elaphomyces Explained

Elaphomyces (‘deer truffles’) is a genus of hypogeous fungi in the family Elaphomycetaceae. The widespread genus contains 25 truffle-like species. Elaphomyces is one of the most important ectomycorrhizal fungal genera in temperate and subarctic forest ecosystems.^[1] E. asperulus, E. granulatus, and E. muricatus were found to accumulate arsenic (12–660 mg/kg in dry mass); the composition of organoarsenicals is very unusual, with methylarsonic acid and trimethylarsine oxide as major As compounds.^[2]

Species

• Elaphomyces aculeatus
• Elaphomyces anthracinus
• Elaphomyces citrinus
• Elaphomyces compleximurus
• Elaphomyces cyanosporus
• Elaphomyces digitatus
• Elaphomyces granulatus, known as deer balls, hart's balls, hart's truffles, or lycoperdon nuts (cf. Lycoperdon)^[3]
• Elaphomyces japonicus
• Elaphomyces leucosporus
• Elaphomyces leveillei
• Elaphomyces morettii
• Elaphomyces muricatus
• Elaphomyces officinalis
• Elaphomyces viridiseptum

Notes and References

1. Paz. A.. Bellanger. J.-M.. Lavoise. C.. Molia. A.. Ławrynowicz. M.. Larsson. E.. Ibarguren. I.O.. Jeppson. M.. Læssøe. T.. 2017-06-30. The genus Elaphomyces (Ascomycota, Eurotiales): a ribosomal DNA-based phylogeny and revised systematics of European 'deer truffles'. Persoonia. 38. 1. 197–239. 10.3767/003158517x697309. 29151633. 5645184.
2. Braeuer. Simone. Borovička. Jan. Goessler. Walter. 2018-02-12. A unique arsenic speciation profile in Elaphomyces spp. ("deer truffles")—trimethylarsine oxide and methylarsonous acid as significant arsenic compounds. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 410. 9. en. 2283–2290. 10.1007/s00216-018-0903-3. 29430602. 5849658. 1618-2642.
3. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. deer, hart, lycoperdon