Earthball
Family: Sclerodermataceae
Genus: Scleroderma
Species: S. citrinum
Scleroderma citrinum, the Common Earthball, is a poisonous fungus similar in appearance to a warty potato. Acid soils, especially on the paths in forests, are its main habitat. The false puffballs all have a thick tough skin and are generally dark inside (the gleba) even from a young age. They are not severely poisonous, causing a somewhat unpleasant gastrointestinal upset. Fortunately most of them are less than 15 cm diameter. The rounded fruitbody is attached to the ground by white mycelial threads, visible in this picture. The thick skin of the earthball is initially white, cream or yellow and may turn ochre-brown or green as it ages. Inside the earthball the spore mass is almost white at first and then brown with white marbling before turning purple-brown throughout.
Special Adaptations:
At maturity the skin ruptures leaving a large, irregular opening. Wind and rain disperse the spores.
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