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Project Noah Nature School
Pisolithus arrhizus ( syn. Pisolithus tinctorius )
A stalked puffball about 60mm high and 70mm wide with a rounded crown of tightly packed small pea-sized spore sacs or peridioles. These sacs were disintegrating and some were split and covered with cinnamon-coloured spores (pic #3).
This was spotted in gravel by a walking track in a nature reserve. They are said to be common in disturbed areas.
This fungus is also called the dyemaker's puffball because the black sticky mass inside the puffball was used to dye clothes. It aslo has the less attractive but quite appropriate name of "horse dung fungus". I was very wary at first and then totally amazed at the rounded structures all over the puffball. http://www.blueswami.com/PhotoResults.ht...
Spotted on Apr 28, 2012
Submitted on Apr 30, 2012
1 Comment
Hmm... doesn't sound or look edible that's for sure. Interesting fungi.