Scleroderma cepa (Vaill.) Pers.
smooth earthball
Sclerodermataceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
smooth earthball
Sclerodermataceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
Species Information
Summary:
Features include 1) a spherical to somewhat flattened or somewhat pear-shaped fruitbody that is whitish becoming yellowish or brownish, staining reddish when rubbed or injured, 2) the surface smooth when young with veins on sides, eventually cracking at the top to form large irregular yellowish gray scales that are flat or somewhat pyramidal, 3) a hard covering 0.1-0.3cm thick, white in cross-section but staining reddish when cut, breaking into 6-8 star-like lobes and opening out at least somewhat, 4) stem absent or as a root-like rhizomorphic base up to 8cm long, 5) growth in woods or in sandy soil in arid areas, and 6) spiny spores without a reticulum. This is a common Scleroderma in the Pacific Northwest. Guzman specifies that this species is not S. cepa Pers. sensu Demoulin 1968 who interpreted the species as having large spores (10.4-16.9 microns), the taxon identified by Guzman(3) as S. albidum. Coccia et al. in 1990 separated S. flavidum (here considered a synonym) by "a peridium with two microscopically distinguished layers, the internal layer made up of large hyphae", (in Sims).
Odor:
weak, of rubber, (Guzman), none (Phillips)
Taste:
not appreciable (Guzman)
Microscopic:
spores (7.5)8.8-12(13.6) x (7.5)8.8-12(13.6) microns, including the spines that are 1-2 microns long, in KOH yellowish with colorless spines; basidia not observed; clamp connections absent, (Guzman), spores 7-10 x 7-10 microns, round, spiny but not reticulate, (Phillips), spores 11-13 microns excluding spines, round, dark brown; no capillitium, (Buczacki)
Notes:
Collections were examined from WA, OR, ON, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, TX, VA, WI, Cuba, Mexico, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand, (Guzman), and Germany and the Philippines, (Sims). It was reported from BC (in Redhead). There are collections from BC at the Pacific Forestry Centre and the University of British Columbia.
EDIBILITY
poisonous (Phillips)
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
Scleroderma laeve and Scleroderma albidum are differentiated by spore diameter (Guzman). S. laeve has a thin peridium (< 0.1cm when dry), whereas S. cepa has a thick peridium (> 0.1cm when dry), (Sims). Scleroderma areolatum has a thinner peridium (less than 0.1cm when dry), opens out across an apical pore rather than opening in star-like fashion, and has larger spores measuring (10)11-17(18) microns, (Guzman). Scleroderma verrucosum has a thin peridium (less than 0.1cm when dry), small scales, and opens out across an apical pore rather than opening in star-like fashion, (Guzman). Scleroderma citrinum has prominent inherent scales (each scale often with a central wart), lobes do not bend outward or unfold appreciably, and spores are strongly reticulate, (Arora). S. citrinum has profuse scales disposed in rosettes and reticulate-spiny spores, (Guzman). Other Pacific Northwest species also have reticulate or somewhat reticulate spores. See also SIMILAR section of Scleroderma bovista, Scleroderma floridanum, Scleroderma hypogaeum, and Scleroderma polyrhizum.Habitat
gregarious on humus in hardwood woods, infrequently with conifers, also in sandy soils in arid or semi-arid scrub, (Guzman), single, scattered, or in groups under hardwood and coniferous trees "in woods, in gardens, and along roadsides", July to October, (Phillips), in semi-arid lands and among hardwoods and conifers (Ramsey), fruits year-round (Trappe, M.(3))
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Scleroderma flavidum Ellis & Everh.
Sistotrema viride Alb. & Schwein.
Tomentella viridis (Berk.) G. Cunn.