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Pigskin Poison Puffball

Scleroderma citrinum

Description:

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. The earthball may be parasitized by Boletus parasiticus.

Habitat:

Scleroderma citrinum, commonly known as the common earthball,[1] pigskin poison puffball,[2] or common earth ball,[3] is the most common species of earthball in the UK and occurs widely in woods, heathland and in short grass from Autumn to Winter. Scleroderma citrinum has two synonyms, Scleroderma aurantium (Vaill.) and Scleroderma vulgare Horn

Notes:

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 spotted in PNPGerês,in Malhadoura mountain

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2 Comments

Dan Doucette
Dan Doucette 11 years ago

Cool shots, Antonio. I just saw something like this a few days ago. I'm not a mushroom expert but I do you think this could be the tough puffball - Mycenastrum corium?

i adeed another photo taken after a week of the mushroom after "exploded"

Spotted on Oct 1, 2012
Submitted on Oct 6, 2012

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