XVI International Botanical Congess

Gasteromycetes are mainly terrestrial or hypogeous, some are lignicolous or coprophilous, some saprobes and others are mycorrhizal. Their habitat restricts to dry warm areas. Due to different climatic conditions in Iran the diversity of this class of fungi is very significant. Some of the taxa are speciality of the North bearing humid climate, such as taxa belonging to Astraeaceae, Clathraceae, Geastraceae, Lycoperdaceae, Nidulariaceae, Phallaceae, Rhizopogonaceae, Sclerodermataceae. In contrast, there exist other species restricted to the arid areas. The said species belong to Mycenastraceae, Phelloriniaceae, Podaxaceae, Secotiaceae, Tulostomataceae. Pisolithus arhizus (Scop.: Pers.) Rausch is an ectomycorrhizal with Eucalyptus trees, widespread and abundant in Khuzestan Province. Up to date 56 taxa of Gasteromycetes have been identified in Iran, Saber (1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998).