Scleroderma laeve (Gasteromycetes, Sclerodermatales), new to Japan

 A Scleroderma species collected on sandy soil under trees of Lithocarpus edulis in Saitama Prefecture, central Japan, is identified as Scleroderma laeve, a new record for Japan. Macroscopic and microscopic features are given. Received: May 24, 2002 / Accepted: September 9, 2002 Acknowledgments We thank Ms. Ryoko Onuma, who offered some useful literature on Scleroderma. We are also grateful to Dr. Toshimitsu Fukiharu (Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba) for his help with preserving the specimens. For collecting specimens, we are grateful to Ms. Ayano Kimura, Mr. Tomoya Matsuyama, and Mr. Takahiro Uchida. Correspondence to:T. Kasuya