Scleroderma Pers. 1801
Details
Nomenclature
Classification
Subordinates
- Scleroderma albidum
- Scleroderma areolatum
- Scleroderma arhizum
- Scleroderma aurantium
- Scleroderma australe
- Scleroderma bovista
- Scleroderma caespitosum
- Scleroderma cepa
- Scleroderma citrinum
- Scleroderma flavidum
- Scleroderma geaster
- Scleroderma hypogaeum
- Scleroderma lycoperdoides
- Scleroderma macrosporum
- Scleroderma paradoxum
- Scleroderma polyrhizum
- Scleroderma pteridis
- Scleroderma radicans
- Scleroderma sp. 'Geothermal (PDD 96540)'
- Scleroderma spadiceum
- Scleroderma tinctorium
- Scleroderma verrucosum
- Scleroderma vulgare
- Scleroderma vulgare
Associations
Descriptions
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.