Scleroderma areolatum

Scleroderma areolatum is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of the genus Scleroderma, or "earth balls."

Scleroderma areolatum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Boletales
Family:	Sclerodermataceae
Genus:	Scleroderma
Species:	S. areolatum
Binomial name
Scleroderma areolatum Ehrenb.

Scleroderma areolatum Mycological characteristics
	Glebal hymenium
	No distinct cap
	Hymenium attachment is not applicable
	Lacks a stipe
	Spore print is purple-black to olive
	Ecology is mycorrhizal
	Edibility is poisonous

Like most members of Scleroderma, S. areolatum resembles but is only distantly related to the giant puffball. It can be distinguished from the giant puffball by cutting it in half; the puffball will have a solid, denser middle, with no signs of a developing cap mushroom. They are usually 1–5 cm in diameter, and grow individually or in small groups.^[1] They are commonly found in deciduous forests, in neutral soil. They are poisonous,^[2] and ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and in larger quantities, fainting.

References

1. Kuo M. "Scleroderma areolatum". MushroomExpert.Com. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
2. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 334. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.