''Scleroderma citrinum'', commonly known as the common earthball, pigskin poison puffball, or common earth ball, 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. Earthballs are superficially similar to, and considered look-alikes of, the edible

puffball Puffballs are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that bursts on impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores when mature. Puffballs belong to the division Basidiomycota and encompass several genera, including '' Calvatia'', '' ...

(particularly '' Apioperdon pyriforme''), but whereas the puffball has a single opening on top through which the

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...

are dispersed, the earthball just breaks up to release the spores. Moreover, ''Scleroderma citrinum'' has much firmer flesh and a dark

gleba Gleba (, from Latin ''glaeba, glēba'', "lump") is the fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of certain fungi such as the puffball or stinkhorn. The gleba is a solid mass of spores, generated within an enclosed area within the sporocarp. The contin ...

(interior) much earlier in development than puffballs. ''Scleroderma citrinum'' has no stem but is attached to the soil by

mycelial Mycelium (plural mycelia) is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates in ...

cords. The

peridium The peridium is the protective layer that encloses a mass of spores in fungi. This outer covering is a distinctive feature of gasteroid fungi. Description Depending on the species, the peridium may vary from being paper-thin to thick and rubbe ...

, or outer wall, is thick and firm, usually ochre yellow externally with irregular warts. The earthball may be parasitized by '' Pseudoboletus parasiticus''. ''Scleroderma citrinum'' can be mistaken with truffles by inexperienced mushroom hunters. Ingestion of ''Scleroderma citrinum'' can cause gastrointestinal distress in humans and animals, and some individuals may experience

lacrimation Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and mucins that form layers on the surface of eyes. The different types of ...

rhinitis Rhinitis, also known as coryza, is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip. The inflammation is caused by viruses, bacteria, irrita ...

and

rhinorrhea Rhinorrhea, rhinorrhoea, or informally runny nose is the free discharge of a thin mucus fluid from the nose; it is a common condition. It is a common symptom of allergies ( hay fever) or certain viral infections, such as the common cold or CO ...

, and

conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. It makes the eye appear pink or reddish. Pain, burning, scratchiness, or itchiness may occur. Th ...

from exposure to its spores.Hoffman, Ursula
"Poisonous Mushrooms in Northeastern North America"
(Website.) NorthEast Mycological Federation, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. Pigments found in the fruiting body of ''Scleroderma citrinum'' Pers. are sclerocitrin, norbadione A, xerocomic acid, and badione A.

Notes

References

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External links

Medicinal Mushrooms
Description, bioactive compounds, medicinal properties

Additional information {{Taxonbar, from=Q1210127 Boletales Fungi of Europe Poisonous fungi Puffballs