Wright J.E. 1987. Bibliotheca Mycologia 113: 98.

Tulostoma exasperatum Montagne (Figs. 44-46; Pls. II: 2; XXXIII: 3) - Ann. Sci.Nat., Bot., ser. II, 8: 362. 1837.

Etym.: the name refers to the spines of the exoperidium.

= T. leveilleanum Montagne in Gaudichaud, Voyage "Bonite", Crypt. p 200. 1844-46.
= Schizostoma exasperatum (Mont.) Lév., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser. III 5: 165. 1846.

Spore-sac globose, up to 20 mm diam. Exoperidium formed by a dense layer of pyramidar, tonic or spiny tubercles, some shade of brown, usually chocolate colour, mixed with smaller verrucae, these being more abundant towards the base and around the peristome, deciduous with age and leaving prominent scars forming a reticulum on the endoperidium. Endoperidium membranous to chamois-like once the exoperidium has fallen off, exhibiting the poligonal scars left by the spines; generally some hue of ochraceouw pink to light cinnamon, but these very variable, sometimes darker. Mouth typically fibrillose-fimbriate, relatively large, covered by small verrucae when young, and forming a peristome of about 5 mm diam, generally darker than the endoperidium, somewhat mammose. Socket inconspicuous, embracinc the stem without any visible membrane. Gleba ochraceous to ferrugineous. Stem up to 40 x 4 mm, straight, reddish brown to concolorous with the exoperidium, with pointed stales which are usually imbricate, sometimes deciduous, ending basally in a small bulb formed by lighter coloured mycelium.

Exoperidium formed by brown, "jig-saw" puzzle-like hyphae with thick walls. Spores typically ornamented, brown, reticulate under L.M. and wits long spines projecting from the angles of the reticulum, which is not deciduous. Under SEM the ornamentation appears helicoidal, very striking like a rib with a more delicate wing, resembling an enveloping ribbon generally globose, 3.3-6 µm diam (with an average of about 4 µm diam without the ornamentation, whose spines may reach 2 µm in length and which under L.M. may appear finger-like. Capillitium hyaline to slightly coloured branched and septate; threads sparsely septate and slightly swollen al the septa, which are not easily disjointable and hardly at all coloured 1.8-7.1 µm diam, mostly about 4 µm diam, walls slightly or not at all thickened and lumen always visible.

Habitat: on humified wood in tropical rain forests.

Distribution: Pantropical.

Holotype: Cuba, leg. Ramón de la Sagra in Herb. Montagne (PC!; pari of type in PRM!).

Illustration: Corda (1837, tab. III, fig. 42); Long & Ahmad (1947) Lloyd (1906, pl. 85, figs. 3-5); Rick (1906, pl. 1, figs. 10-12).