Desert Shaggy Mane

Description:

Desert Shaggy Mane Mushrooms (Podaxis pistillaris) are upright, hard-shelled, puff-ball type mushrooms (they do not have gills or a toad-stool top). These mushrooms often appear in the desert after heavy rains. When growing, the exterior is white and leathery. When ripe, they turn dark and the hard shell splits open, exposing the spores to winds that disperse them widely.

Habitat:

Hotel garden

Notes:

The desert shaggy mane bears close resemblance to the far more moist true shaggy mane; hence, the name. Stalked puffballs are well known for their specialization to dry environments, and they intentionally dry out to form brittle, papery "lollipops" filled with a mass of brown spores. When ready, a small disturbance, even wind, will break apart their outer layer and release their spores. P. pistillaris is a very common resident of urban desert environments. It prefers sandy areas, and can appear in very large numbers in disturbed locations, such as those under construction or development. The most common locations are the edges of roads and in medians, where they recieve drip irrigation water and gain nutrients from leaf litter.