Handkea

Handkea is a genus of puffball mushrooms in the family Agaricaceae. In 1989, German mycologist Hanns Kreisel described the genus Handkea to include species of Calvatia with distinct microscopic features, including a unique type of capillitium (coarse thick-walled hyphae in the gleba), with curvy slits instead of the usual pores.^[1] Although accepted by some authors,^[2] the genus concept has been rejected by others.^[3][4]

Handkea
Handkea utriformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Basidiomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Agaricaceae
Genus:	Handkea Kreisel
Type species
Handkea utriformis (Bull.) Kreisel

The genus name of Handkea is in honour of Horst-Herbert Handke (1913-2005), who was a German botanist and Professor at the University of Halle.^[5]

Phylogenetic analyses published in 2008 shows that Handkea may be grouped in a clade along with species from several other genera, including Lycoperdon, Vascellum, Morganella, Bovistella, and Calvatia.^[6]

Species

• H. canadensis
• H. capensis
• H. fumosa
• H. hesperia
• H. lloydii
• H. lycoperdoides
• H. subcretacea
• H. wandae