Reticulate spore ornamentation in Strobilomyces

Reticulate spore ornamentation in Strobilomyces (Boletaceae, Basidiomycotina) is visible under light microscopy (bright field and phase contrast) up to 1,500×. While some distinctions can be made at this magnification, ontogeny and fine structure of the ornamentation cannot be discerned. Scanning electron microscope images, conversely, reveal significant additional structure from which the ontogenetic process can be traced. Citing numerous New and Old World collections, this paper presents evidence distinguishing reticulate ornamentation ontogeny in these disjunct populations.