Fungi · GBIF taxon 5239982
Common Earthball
Scleroderma citrinumAlso known as Pigskin Poison Puffball, Common Earth Ball
Common earthballs are tough, potato-like fungi that grow half-buried in mossy woodlands and sandy soils. Their thick, yellowish-brown outer skin is covered in coarse, wart-like scales, protecting a dense, dark purple-black spore mass inside. As they mature, the tough outer rind splits open at the top to allow rain and wind to disperse the powdery spores.
FungusToxicWoodland
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tree root carbohydrates
- Soil minerals
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnats
- Beetles
ThreatsSoil compaction, habitat destruction
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous woodlands, sandy soils, mossy banks
Life spanFruiting bodies persist for several weeks to months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySclerodermataceae
- SpeciesScleroderma citrinum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic if ingested. Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Squeeze Gently: Gently press mature, dry specimens to watch puff-like clouds of dark spores escape.
- Check the Interior: Slice a fallen specimen open to see the characteristic dark purple-black interior.
- Look for Parasites: Search the base of earthballs for the rare parasitic bolete growing on them.
Parasite 
Look-Alike (c) Jacob Weston, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacob Weston · cc-byClose Relative Close Relative
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