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Scleroderma Pers., Syn. Meth. Fung. xiv, 150 (1801)
Scleroderma Pers. 1801

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Present
New Zealand
Political Region

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Pers.
Pers.
1801
xiv, 150
Pers.
xiv, 150
ICN
Scleroderma Pers. 1801
genus
Scleroderma

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Scleroderma

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Scleroderma Pers. 1801

The earthballs. This genus is characterised by a hard, rind-like yellow or brownish spore case, with or without a stout sterile base, and opening through an irregular pore or sometimes in an irregular star-like manner. When immature the flesh inside the fruiting body is purple in colour, compared to the white-coloured flesh of puffballs.

Mycorrhizal with the tea-tree species and with exotic species such as oak.

There are 5 species reported for New Zealand and all should be regarded as poisonous.

Exctomycorrhizal, puff-ball-like fungi, dark purple inside when immature (compared to the white flesh of the 'true' puffballs), brown, powdery spore masses when mature, opening by irregular, ragged hole, the opening often very large with time. Following spore release the folded-back remains of the walls of the fruiting body may perist for some time.

Both indigenous and exotic species, poorly understood taxonomically for New Zealand.

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Scleroderma Pers. 1801
[Not available]

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1cb1a322-36b9-11d5-9548-00d0592d548c
scientific name
Names_Fungi
1 January 2001
13 June 2019
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