The gasteroid fungi of Essex
76 GK: 77 GK; 3 GK; 78 GK; 31 GK; 79 GK; 187 MG; 190 MG; 191 MG; 192 MG; 193 MG; 8
MG; 33 MG; 142 MG; 24 JS; 2 JS; 195 JS; 196 JH; 197 JH; 163 JH; 198 JH; 6 JA; 199 JS; 97 JS;
200 EB; 201 PW; 202 JS; 203 TP; 204 BS; 205 BS; 206 BS; 207 PS; 208 LW; 209 JS; 210 JS; 211
JS; 25 MS; 28 ML; 61 RB; 31 RB; 32 RB; 26 LK; 70 MS; 138 ADB; 53 SW; 38 ShW; 40 ShW; 63
ShW; 212 ShW; 213 ShW; 52 ADB; 37 IR; 214 ShW; 215 SW; 216 SW; 107 SJ; 159 ShW; 217
ShW; 194 MG; 54 IR; 55 IR; 174 EWT; 218 EWT; 56 IR; 219 GCa; 135 RT; 91 RM; 57 GP; 59
EWT; 220 ShW; 221 ShW; 39 GS; 161 GS; 222 GS; 223 MS; 224 MS; 73 MS; 46 EWT; 160 ShW;
251 ShW.
Lycoperdon echinatum Hedgehog Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
This puffball has very long, brown spines (3-6 mm) which leave a pattern of small areas separated
by cracks. It has a very dark spore deposit. It is found on chalky soil, mostly with beech.
76 GK; 77 GK; 79 GK; 61 RB.
Lycoperdon perlatum Common Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
This species is the commonest British puffball and is found in most woodlands. When old these
pestle-shaped to pear-shaped fruiting bodies are covered in a net-like pattern formed from spine-
scars and warts. The spines are bluntly conical. Usually on soil or litter.
76 GK; 3 GK; 79 GK; 43 MG; 225 MG; 226 MG; 30 MG; 227 MG; 191 MG; 187 MG; 8 MG; 194
MG; 33 MG; 218 MG; 13 MG: 4 ADB; 2 JS; 3 JS; 228 JH; 229 LW; 6 EB; 230 TP; 231 TP; 232 TP;
24 JA; 10 JS; 28 PS; 197 JH; 233 HP; 234 JS; 26 MM; 235 MM; 236 MM; 132 MM; 25 MS; 29
ADB; 61 RB; 31 RB; 32 RB; 138 ADB; 214 ShW; 52 ADB; 37 IR; 38 ADB; 44 ADB; 41 BC; 48
ADB; 53 ADB; 54 IR; 55 IR; 56 IR; 215 EWT; 49 SP; 47 EWT: 237 KHa; 136 RB; 63 ShW; 212
ShW; 238 ShW; 213 ShW; 159 ShW; 64 ShW; 222 GS; 39 GS; 239 GS; 161 GS; 223 MS; 224 MS:
73 MS; 240 ADB; 142 ShW; 40 ShW.
Lycoperdon nigrescens (=foetidum) Blackish Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
This puffball has dark coloured, convergent spines on the surface which are shorterthan 3 mm. The
spines leave a net-like pattern when they fall off. The fruiting body may be almost spherical to pear-
shaped. It is frequent in woodlands.
76 GK; 187 MG; 171 JS; 226 MG; 24 JA; 241 JS; 26 KA; 234 BW; 28 ML; 33 ADB; 37 TR; 48
ADB; 47 EWT; 52 ADB; 225 EWT; 31 RB; 45 ADB.
Lycoperdon lividum Grassland Puffball
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The outer covering is granular and does not have distinct spines. The sterile tissue beneath the spore
mass is dark in colour. It is usually found in calcareous grassland.
47 MG; 173 MG; 13 MG; 35 ADB; 154 JS: 242 JS; 47 EWT; 157 MG; 87 GS; 144 GS; 45 ADB.
Lycoperdon molle Soft-Spined Puffball
Distribution 1:2:4:5:6
The pear-shaped fruiting body is covered with delicate, milky-coffee coloured spines. The spores
are very warty. Under the microscope a spore mount contains abundant, detached spore stalks.
76 GK; 28 ML; 56 EWT; 47 EWT; 161 GS; 222 GS; 252 GS.
Phallus impudicus Common Stinkhorn
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body consists of a cap covered in slime on a tall, white stalk. (15-20 cm tall). The slime
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)