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Dyemaker's puffball; Seta de los tintoreros

Pisolithus arhizus

Description:

Pisolithus arhizus, also known as P. tinctorius, is a widespread earth-ball like fungus. It is known in Australia as the horse dung fungus and in Europe also as the Bohemian truffle. This amazing mushroom starts out looking like a tough, baseball-sized puffball, but soon develops into a minor monstrosity that sticks up from the ground like a dusty stump. When young its interior is filled with pea-sized spore packages ("peridioles") embedded in a blackish ooze, but these begin to disintegrate from the top down and the thin outer rind breaks apart to expose the interior, releasing spores (often the area surrounding Pisolithus tinctorius is covered with cinnamon brown powder).

Habitat:

Under Cistus ladanifer (Gum Rockrose, jara pringosa). Parque nacional de Monfragüe.

Notes:

This puffball's black viscous gel is used as a natural dye for clothes. Pisolithus tinctorius imparts a reddish brown to black sort of color to the wool. Pisolithus tinctorius is also a major component in Mycorrhizae fungi mixtures that are used in gardening as powerful root stimulators.This fungus is very useful in reclamation and reforestation of disturbed and poor soils, such as strip mines. It can survive low pH (high acidity), high concentrations of heavy metals, and high soil temperatures in the summer, along with the accompanying drought. It is also useful in the restrictive environment of nurseries. It seems to be a "super-mycorrhiza," and inoculum of "P.t." in the form of spores can be commercially purchased. Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/36; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: +1 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired

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4 Comments

arlanda
arlanda 10 years ago

Thanks Noel

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 10 years ago

Interesting spot and info!

arlanda
arlanda 10 years ago

Thanks Mark

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 10 years ago

I love the contrary names from Australia and Europe. :-) Nice job sir.

arlanda
Spotted by
arlanda

Torrejón el Rubio, Extremadura, Spain

Spotted on Feb 1, 2014
Submitted on Feb 26, 2014

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