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open sterile base of a puffball

calvatia species-? (maybe Calvatia/Handkea excipuliformis)

Photo by AlexKonig
Published on Project Noah
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51.4427, 6.06087

Field Notes

Description:

A puffball is a member of any of several groups of fungus in the division Basidiomycota. The puffballs were previously treated as a taxonomic group called the Gasteromycetes or Gasteromycetidae, but they are now known to be a polyphyletic assemblage. The distinguishing feature of all puffballs is that they do not have an open cap with spore-bearing

[---the shape of a cup. well regular curved walls. the top almost evenly folded. the folded pieces lays 0,5-0,7 mm folded on the top. the inside seems to be some sort a jelly or some soft stuff. the whole cup was 5 cm high and 3 cm wide.]

Habitat:

Lycoperdaceae is a family of approximately 150 fungi now known to lie in the Agaricales. Historically they were placed in their own order Lycoperdales. Members of the Lycoperdaceae family are known as the true puffballs. Unlike other types of fungi that hold spores in gills or teeth, puffballs contain the spores inside a layer of tougher outer skin. When a puffball reaches maturity, the tough skin will split open, allowing the billions of spores to be released

[----on a rotten stump. no other specimen to compare. and i had re-visited the spot 1-2 weeks later and there was no bigger differents which should stand out--]

Notes:

thanks to "clive",after being 2 month id-less, i could found some info/picture which let me presume this id --> ( http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&cp=62&gs_id=2&xhr=t&q=Calvatia+excipu… ) -
[----i think some of you maybe suggest "deacaying,mutated,misformed"- puffball, but i checked into that direction. the only somewhat common feature was the surface of the outside.they were structured like a lycoperdon molle (i can (COULD) not think: this is a puffball, which has the upper part defect,folded his rest-pieces,and stand definitly still 12 days without any signs of damage at the lower part)----]

here some fresher specimen, but with the same problem --> ( http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8260410 )

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

If this is about 1-1/2" tall like it looks, I believe this is an old deflated Lycoperdon perlatum. Calvatia is much larger, and the stem base left is smooth across the top, not deflated like the one in your photos.
hi clive, take a look at this spotting ( http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8260410 ),they could bring some answers about this weirdo. Would like to hear, what you think about these 2 spottings! When you have the time, Thanks in advance!
thanks clive, you gave me the right "words" to research.!! because there where only the half of the fruitingbody and i don't took some spores/gen-material, i can't narrow the Species down!! I will let it at the family, max to the genus! but "Calvatia excipuliformis" looks possible
yeah i thought so, as said the surface is like a smooth puffball, but the shape throws me of the track, and the inside confused me totally !! but with a little luck and some time, i will stumble over a hint. !!!
Wow! That is strange! I've never seen anything like it either. Looks like a folded paper bag at the top. This will be a tough one to ID, if even you don't have a clue.

Spotted for Missions

Photographed
PublishedOctober 27, 2011

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