Pisolithus arhizus

Pisolithus arhizus, commonly known as the dead man's foot, dyeball,^[1] pardebal, or Bohemian truffle, is a widespread earth-ball like fungus, which may in fact be several closely related species. This puffball's black viscous gel is used as a natural dye for clothes.^[2] Pisolithus arhizus is a major component in mycorrhizal fungus mixtures that are used in gardening as powerful root stimulators.^[3] It is inedible.^[4]

Pisolithus arhizus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Boletales
Family:	Sclerodermataceae
Genus:	Pisolithus
Species:	P. arhizus
Binomial name
Pisolithus arhizus (Scop.) Rauschert (1959)
Synonyms
Lycoperdon arrizon Scop. (1786) Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch (1928)

In South Africa, it is known as the pardebal, and in Europe, it is known as the Bohemian truffle.

The fruiting body is 5–30 cm tall and 4–20 cm wide, with a thin yellow-brown to brown exterior layer.^[5] The spores are brown.^[5]

Dictyocephalos attenuatus is similar.^[5]

References

1. Wood, Michael; Stevens, Fred. "California Fungi: Pisolithus arhizus". MycoWeb.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
2. Roberts P, Evans S (2011). The Book of Fungi. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. 525. ISBN 978-0-226-72117-0.
3. Kuo M, Methven A (2010). 100 Cool Mushrooms. University of Michigan Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-472-03417-8.
4. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 335. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
5. Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 374–375. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.

External links

Pisolithus arhizus Mycological characteristics
	Glebal hymenium
	No distinct cap
	Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
	Lacks a stipe
	Spore print is brown
	Ecology is mycorrhizal

• Pisolithus tinctorius
• Mushroomexpert.com