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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Discussion

Teresa wrote:
29 Jun 2025
@Caric thanks for the extra info; love your finds - there are many different species of Australian truffles which are mycorrhizal with many different plants and trees - great finds

zz - truffle
Caric wrote:
29 Jun 2025
Thanks Teresa. There's a related find: Sighting 4680262 found under St John's Wort during the same weeding session. Distinct pink colour so I assumed it was a different species. The tree nearby was Eucalyptus bridgesiana and although most of the grass under the tree is cocksfoot, it is actually a Themeda grassland. Not sure if this helps identifying them.

zz - truffle
Teresa wrote:
28 Jun 2025
Great find

zz - truffle
Heino1 wrote:
24 Jul 2024
Possibly a Pisolithus

Unverified Truffle
Heino1 wrote:
17 Jun 2024
Looks like one of the truffles with no (or a very evanescent) skin - perhaps a Gautieria.

zz - truffle
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