Harippika

Harippika is a genus of fungi in the family Sclerodermataceae. This genus was first described in 2018 by mycologists based on molecular phylogenetic studies. Harippika species are characterized by their puffball-like fruiting bodies, which are typically hypogeous or epigeous, meaning they grow underground or on the surface of the soil, respectively. The exoperidium, or outer wall of the fruiting body, is often tough and leathery. Internally, the gleba, which contains the spores, is initially fleshy and becomes powdery with maturity.

The spores of Harippika are generally globose to subglobose, and possess a distinctive ornamentation, often verrucose or echinulate. These fungi are typically found in ectomycorrhizal associations with trees, playing a role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems. Current research suggests that Harippika species are distributed across various continents, with some species identified in Europe and Asia. Further research is ongoing to fully understand the diversity, distribution, and ecological significance of this genus. The etymology of the genus name is derived from Sanskrit, referring to a type of mushroom.