Tuber sinoexcavatum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tuber sinoexcavatum
Scientific classification
Genus:	Tuber
Species:	sinoexcavatum
Known only from Sichuan Province, China

Tuber sinoexcavatum is a special kind of truffle. Truffles are fungi that grow underground, often near tree roots. This particular truffle was discovered in China in 2011. It's usually pale yellowish-brown to brown and can be up to about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) wide. It looks a lot like another truffle from Europe called T. excavatum.

How Scientists Named This Truffle

Scientists officially described Tuber sinoexcavatum as a new species in 2011. They published their findings in a science journal called Mycotaxon.

The first samples of this truffle were found in Panzhihua City, China. This area is in Sichuan Province. The truffles were growing in the ground near pine trees.

The name sinoexcavatum has a special meaning. "Sino" comes from a Latin word for China. "Excavatum" means it is similar to T. excavatum, a well-known European truffle. So, the name tells us it's a Chinese truffle that looks like T. excavatum.

What Does This Truffle Look Like?

The part of the truffle we see, called the fruit body, is usually round. It can be pale yellowish-brown to brown. These truffles are about 1.5 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide.

At the bottom of the truffle, there's a small hollow space or cavity. The outside skin can be smooth. Sometimes, it has tiny bumps that look like nipples. Around the hollow part, the surface is clearly bumpy or "warted."

The outer skin, called the peridium, is very thin. It's only about 200 to 300 micrometers thick. That's thinner than a human hair! This skin has two different layers. The outer layer is made of small, light brown cells. The inner layer is made of clear, thin threads.

Inside the Truffle

The inside part of the truffle that holds the spores is called the gleba. When the truffle is fully grown, the gleba is yellow-brown to reddish-brown. It has many thin, whitish lines running through it, like tiny veins.

The cells that produce spores are called asci. They are almost round and usually hold two or three spores. Sometimes they have one or four spores. These cells are very tiny, about 75 to 125 micrometers long.

The spores themselves are round. When they are young, they are clear. As they get older, they turn brown or yellowish-brown. They are about 35 to 50 micrometers wide. Their surface looks like a mesh or net, with ridges and spines.

Tuber sinoexcavatum looks a lot like the common European truffle, T. excavatum. However, older T. excavatum truffles usually have a darker gleba inside.