Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Iron ball fungus

Pisolithus arhizus

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-37.8062, 145.254

Field Notes

Description:

A very tough and hard ball about the size of a tennis ball looking like rusted iron (and about as hard). Someone had already pushed it over exposing an in-ground stem of rich yellow. I decided to partially cut the ball and found a gooey mass of black with embedded seed-like bits. (Similar to capsicum seeds embedded in Vegemite) No noticeable odour.

Habitat:

Dry eucalyptus and grassy area on very wide highway median strip.

Notes:

Synonymous with P tinctorius
Always seems to be near the base of a gum tree. Although there are some related species it may be called Bohemian truffle in Europe. The Vegemite component was used as a dye.
http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn:lsid:catalogueoflife.org:taxon…

Reference Links:

Pisolithus tinctorius - Overview, Pisolithus tinctorius, Pisolithus tinctorius (MushroomExpert.Com)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Mark Ridgway
No that's fine. I hope you don't mind if I use it sometime! Vegemite certainly deserves all the criticism it gets.
drP
I was just going for a cheap laugh. I apologize sincerely if I came off as being critical.
Mark Ridgway
Ha drP ! Great analysis. I guess I should have put Marmite for Britain and maybe tamarind pulp for India. Sorry - very unscientific but it works for some :) http://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/product-information-vegemite.aspx
drP
Very interesting spotting. Vegemite...sounds like something one would use to demolish a salad bar. :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Mission
Beauty of Decay
Photographed
PublishedJune 4, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies