The gasteroid fungi of Essex
Species recorded in Essex
Scleroderma The wall of the spore-sac is not thin and papery. It opens by irregular cracks. Tissue
below spore-sac is not spongy or is absent.
Scleroderma bovista Potato Earthball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body has a short stalk buried in the litter. The wall is smooth and thin. The spores are
covered with a complete net
14 JH; 15 JS; 16 LW; 28 ML; 26 ADB; 36 ADB; 35 ADB; 54 IR; 74 ADB; 75 ADB; 76 GK.
Scleroderma citrinum Common Earthball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body does not have a stalk. The wall is up to 5mm thick. The spores are covered with an
incomplete net. It is the commonest British species.
1 JS; 2 JS; 3 JS; 4 JS; 5 JH; 6 JA; 7 JS; 8 JS; 9 BS; 10 AM; 11 AW; 24 MM; 25 MS; 26 MM; 28 ML;
29 ADB; 31 RB; 33 ADB; 30 MG; 41 BC; 42 MG; 43 MG; 44 MG; 45 MG; 46 MG; 47 MG; 48
ADB; 54 IR; 13 GP; 58 EWT; 57 GP: 61 RB; 62 RB; 63 ShW; 64 ShW; 67 GS; 70 MS; 71 MS; 76
GK; 77 GK; 78 GK; 79 GK; 72 MS; 73 MS.
Scleroderma cepa Onion Earthball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body lacks a stalk. The wall is very thick. The spores have large, separate, pyramidal
warts.
39 GS.
Scleroderma verrucosum Scaly Earthball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body has a very well-developed, furrowed stalk. The wall is thin, and the spores have
separate spines.
6JA;17MG;18JA;13MG;20TS;21LW;22JS;25MS;23JS;27LK;28ML;10ADB;30MG;
31 RB; 32 RB; 34 ADB; 37 IR; 38 ADB; 39 ADB; 40 ShW; 49 ADB; 50 ADB; 51 ADB; 52 ADB;
29 ADB;
53 ADB; 54 IR; 59 EWT; 8 GP; 2 EWT; 56 IR; 60 EWT; 68 GS; 69 GS; 70 MS; 71 MS; 72 MS; 26
MS; 73 MS; 45 ADB; 35 ADB; 36 ADB; 47 MG; 76 GK.
Scleroderma areolatum Leopard-spotted Earlhball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body is small and lias a very short, thin stalk. The wall is thin, and the spores have
separate spines.
12 JH; 13 MG; 19 KH; 28 ML; 4 ADB; 54 IR; 56 IR; 57 GP; 66 GS; 76 GK; 65 GS.
Glishroderma cinctum
Distribution 6
This fungus resembles the slime mould Lycogala epidendrum, seated on a circular mass of fungal
threads. It has pink spores released through a central pore in the wall of the hemispherical fruiting
body. The species is extremely rare and is no longer classified as a basidiomycete, but is actually an
anamorphic ascomycete, the spores being produced asexually (Pegler, Laessoe & Spooner 1995). It
has been recorded in Western Germany and the Wyre Forest, Worcestershire (Ramsbottom 1953),
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
137