Fauna
Fungus

Onion Earthball

Scleroderma cepa

Also known as Smooth Earthball

Smooth earthballs produce dense, rounded fruiting bodies that anchor into sandy or disturbed soil with a cluster of mycelial cords. As the thick, leathery peridium matures, the interior gleba darkens rapidly from firm whitish tissue into a powdery mass of purplish-black spores. Rainfall and physical disturbance eventually rupture the outer shell, releasing spore clouds into the surrounding woodland ecosystem.

FungusMycorrhizalWoodland
Onion Earthball reference1 / 7
(c) Nadija Antonova, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nadija Antonova · cc-by
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMycorrhizal
Predators
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Slugs
  • Woodland rodents
ThreatsSevere soil compaction and broad-spectrum fungicide use
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous woodlands, parklands, sandy paths, and disturbed soil
Life spanFruiting body persists 2–8 weeks; underground mycelium can live for decades
Classification
  1. OrderBoletales
  2. FamilySclerodermataceae
  3. GenusScleroderma
  4. SpeciesScleroderma cepa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Toxic if ingested; many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
Why it is dangerous
Contains gastrointestinal toxins that induce severe nausea, profuse vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea within hours of ingestion.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by its smooth to finely cracked yellowish-tan peridium, tough leathery rind, and purple-black interior gleba.
What to do
Do not ingest; wash hands after handling cut or bruised specimens to prevent accidental transfer of spores or fungal matter.
Responsible observation
  • Internal Check: Slice crosswise to observe the dense, dark purple-black interior that distinguishes it from harmless puffballs.
  • Spore Safety: Avoid squeezing dry, mature specimens directly toward your face to prevent inhaling dense spore clouds.
Related species
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