''Pachyphloeus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of Ascomycete

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

(Pezizales, Pezizaceae) that forms hypogeous

fruit bodies The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life c ...

, aka

truffle A truffle is the Sporocarp (veggie), fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, predominantly one of the many species of the genus ''Tuber (fungus), Tuber''. In addition to ''Tuber'', many other genera of fungi are classified as truf ...

s. ''Pachyphloeus citrinus'' is known as the "berry truffle" and ''Pachyphloeus austro-oregonensis'' is known as the "southern Oregon berry truffle". The genus ''Pachyphloeus'' forms

ectomycorrhiza An ectomycorrhiza (from Greek ἐκτός ', "outside", μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. ectomycorrhizas or ectomycorrhizae, abbreviated EcM) is a form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont, or mycob ...

l mutualisms with tree roots, usually

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

s. Truffles require animals to dig them up and eat them, in order to disperse their

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...

Species

*'' Pachyphloeus austro-oregonensis'' *'' Pachyphloeus carneus'' *'' Pachyphloeus citrinus'' *'' Pachyphloeus conglomeratus'' *''

Pachyphloeus depressus ''Pachyphloeus depressus'' is a species of ascomycete fungus that forms truffle-like fruitbodies. It is found in southwestern China, where it has been reported from Qiaojia County, Yunnan Province, and Huili County, Sichuan Province. These co ...

'' – China *'' Pachyphloeus lateritius'' *'' Pachyphloeus ligericus'' *'' Pachyphloeus macrosporus'' *'' Pachyphloeus marroninus'' *'' Pachyphloeus melanoxanthus'' *'' Pachyphloeus prieguensis'' *'' Pachyphloeus saccardoi'' *'' Pachyphloeus thysellii'' *'' Pachyphloeus virescens''

References

Pezizaceae Pezizales genera {{Pezizomycetes-stub