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OPEN pigskin poison puffball
scleroderma citrinum
51.4427, 6.06087
Field Notes
Description:
Scleroderma citrinum, commonly known as the common earthball, pigskin poison puffball, or common earth ball. Earthballs are superficially similar to, and considered look-alikes of the edible puffball, but whereas the Puffball has a single opening on top through which the spores are dispersed, the earthball just breaks up to release the spores. Moreover, Scleroderma citrinum has much firmer flesh and a dark gleba (interior) much earlier in development than puffballs. Scleroderma citrinum has no stem but is attached to the soil by mycelial cords. The peridium, or outer wall, is thick and firm, usually ochre yellow externally with irregular warts
Habitat:
is the most common species of earthball in the UK and occurs widely in woods, heathland and in short grass from Autumn to Winter.
--- Ecology: Mycorrhizal with hardwoods and conifers; often found in mossy areas (occasionally on well-rotted wood); growing alone, scattered, or gregariously; widely distributed; summer and fall.
Notes:
Scleroderma citrinum has two synonyms, Scleroderma aurantium (Vaill.) and Scleroderma vulgare Horn
----The earthball may be parasitized by Boletus parasiticus.
Ingestion of scleroderma citrinum can cause gastrointestinal distress in humans and animals, and some individuals may experience lacrimation, rhinitis and rhinorrhea, and conjunctivitis from exposure to its spores
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This puffball and its relatives have been the source of tremendous confusion recently, due to the revelation that they are closely related to boletes, especially those in Gyroporus. For more information on this odd twist of events, see ( http://www.mushroomexpert.com/scleroderma_citrinum.html )
Some authors call the mushrooms in Scleroderma "earthballs," to emphasize their differences from fleshier puffballs. Many Scleroderma species have tough outer rinds, and Scleroderma citrinum has a rind that is scaly and hard. When sliced, the rind stains pinkish. Inside, the spore mass is initially white, but soon begins to turn dark purple to purple-black, from the center outwards.
(actually i dont wanted to shot some, there were enough, but such open specimen, were missing in my collection)
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