Edibility

Too be honest i am not much of a fan of Rhizopogons AKA False truffles as i find them bland and not very palatable. I know of people pickling them but unless you were curious i would not waste my time however don’t take my word for it give it a go.

In Japan, a member of this genus, Rhizopogon roseolus is much prized as a food where is it known as Shoro and best eaten when firm.

Note Edible Rhizopogon will turn brown over time so if this happens please discard.

Habitat

This fungus where it is a fairly common in pine forests with sandy soils, it is found half buried in the ground usually on the periphery of the forest itself and resemble baby potato’s.

Description.

The name comes from Rhiz- meaning root, and -pogon, meaning beard

Rhizopogons are a great fungi for beginners would would like to try different fungi but who are wary of picking the wrong thing and getting sick or even worse! Once cut this mushroom will be light and sponge like inside resembling a marshmallow. You can see this quite clearly in the photo cross section. Discard any that are brown or black inside

Appearance

Size can range greatly from 2 cm- 5 cm in diameter.

Shape can range from globule to round There is no stem/stipe, but strands mycelial threads called hyphae spread into the soil (these can just be seen in some of the attached pictures).

Outer skin Is smooth and is sponge like if squeezed forming into its original shape when released.

Colour Ranges from a white to light brown to almost red in appearance.

Distribution

QLD-NSW-VIC-SA-WA-TAS-NT

Spore Colour

Off white to yellow

Lookalikes

Scleroderma species are an earth ball and not a puff ball however they can on occasion be white inside but will always have a thick yellow skin , hence the name Sclero meaning hardening and derma meaning skin.

please use this reference as a tool for identification only and never eat any mushroom unless you do your own research and you are 100% sure.

Remember if in doubt leave it out!

Rhizopogon Sp