The gasteroid fungi of Essex
Handkea utriformis Mosaic Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
This is a large puffball, which is as broad as it is high. It has smooth spores. It is frequent in mead-
ows.
76 GK; 47 MG; 163 JH; 28 JS: 164 KA: 12 JH; 152 RP; 28 ML: 134 EWT: 165 RB; 166 ShW; 167
GS; 39 GS; 144 GS; 108 GS.
Handkea excipuliformis Pestle-Shaped Puffball (see Plate 8)
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
This is a large, pestle-shaped puffball with very warty spores. It is frequent in woods.
76 GK; 116 GK; 168 MG; 3 JS; 9 JS; 10 JS; 28 JS; 79 BS; 89 AM; 25 MS; 50 RB; 26 ADB; 55 IR;
56 EWT; 28 LF; 135 RT; 61 RB; 38 ShW; 159 ShW; 11 GS; 169 GS; 161 GS; 170 GS.
Bovista Tissue below the spore-sac is not spongy or is absent. The wall of the spore-sac is thin and
papery, with a well-defined opening. The fungal threads amongst the spores may or may not have
long tapering branches, which do not break when a cover slip is slid to-and-fro over them.
Bovista dermoxantha (=pusilla) (= Lycoperdon ericetorum) Dwarf Bovist
Distribution 1 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6
This uncommon species has been recorded once in Essex. The small fruiting bodies are 10-30 mm
across. The spores have short tails. Tissue beneath the spore-producing region is absent or poorly
developed.
28 LF.
Bovista nigrescens Brown Bovist
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body is 30-60 mm across. The smooth, white, outer layer is soon lost exposing a shiny,
dark brown, inner layer. It has a large, irregular opening. The spores have a tail. It is uncommon and
is found in grassland.
76 GK; 79 GK; 13 MG; 171 JS; 172 JH; 162 GS.
Bovista plumbea Lead-Grey Bovist
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting bodies are 10-25 mm across. They have a lead-grey surface layer, once the whitish egg-
shell like outer layer has been shed. There is no tissue beneath the spore-producing region. The
spores have long tails. It is common in grassland.
76 GK; 116 GK; 13 MG; 173 MG; 99 MG; 175 MG; 174 MG; 132 JS; 163 JH; 176 AW; 147 JH;
177 JS; 178 GC; 179 JS; 180 JS; 181 JS; 182 JS; 183 JS; 38 JS; 184 JS; 153 JS; 185 JS; 186 JS; 25
MS; 28 ML; 47 EWT; 187 EWT; 31 RB; 39 GS; 189 GS.
Lycoperdon Tissue below the spore-sac is spongy. There is no diaphragm between the spore-sac and
the sterile tissue underneath. The spore sac opens with a pore, and a false column is present in the
spore-sac. The fungal threads amongst the spores do not have long, tapering branches.
Lycoperdon pyriforme Stump Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting bodies are in groups of papery, pear-shaped to pestle-shaped puffballs always found on
wood (wood may be buried). The sterile tissue below the spore-sac is always white. It is a common
species.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
141