Tulostoma volvulatum
Tulostoma volvulatum I.G. Borshch.
Tulostomataceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies composed of globose or flattened head, 2–2.5 cm in diameter, smooth, on a sterile stalk. Exoperidium white, thin, falling off. Endoperidium white, ochraceous to creamy, smooth and thick, covering the fruit-body and opening at the top through a round even aperture, up to 3 mm in diameter; later the aperture remains as a shredded fissure. Stalk 2.5–9 × 0.8–1.4 cm, white to light brown, with longitudinal furrows, woody, with a brownish basal volva. Gleba chocolate brown to red brown. Spores globose to ellipsoid, 4–5 × 5–6 µm, dark brown, smooth. IV–XI.
Habitats and populations. On sandy soils.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Northern – Balchik).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America, Africa.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by urbanization, development of tourism/recreation and road infrastructure, soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The locality is situated in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Negrean & Denchev 2002; Denchev & Assyov 2010.
Authors: Roumyana D. Petrova, Cvetomir M. Denchev
