The gleba development of Langermannia gigantea (Batsch: Pers.) Rostk. (Basidiomycetes) compared to other Lycoperdaceae, and some systematic implications.

The fruit body and in particular the gleba development of several species of Lycoperdaceae has been examined by light microscopic analysis of microtome sections of fruit body primordia in different ontogenetic stages. The gleba of Langermannia gigantea develops in a unique and previously unknown manner: the hymenium-forming palisade structures are borne on fan-like branches of hyphae. Hence the term of flabelloid glebal development is introduced. The other genera of Lycoperdaceae, including the genus Calvatia, are characterized by both lacunar and coralloid development of the gleba. Because these features cannot be distinguished clearly, this type of glebal development is referred to as coralloid-lacunar. Due to the peculiar ontogeny I suggest keeping the genus Langermannia separate from Calvatia.