Common Earthball
ExploreFungi
Common Earthball
scleroderma citrinum
The Common Earthball is a round, spongy fungus that can be found on the forest floor! Its unique shape makes it look like a little ball just waiting to be discovered during your outdoor adventures.
Habitat: Forests, grasslands, and sometimes gardens.
Appearance
The Common Earthball is a firm, round fungus, typically 3-10 cm wide. It has a yellowish-brown, warty or scaly outer skin, making it look like a tough, bumpy potato. Inside, it's firm and white when young, turning dark purple-brown and powdery as it matures.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderBoletalesFamilySclerodermataceaeGenusScleroderma
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its warty skin makes it look like a tiny, bumpy alien planet.
Stepping on a ripe one can make a puff of "smoke"!
They are NOT edible puffballs; they are poisonous!
Young earthballs smell a bit like rubber or chemicals!
Special abilities
Ability
Spore Cloud Shooter
Common Earthball can release millions of powdery spores when disturbed, helping them spread far and wide.
Ability
Tree Root Helper
Common Earthball has a hidden network that helps trees absorb water and nutrients, making forests healthier.
Measurements & details
- Edibility
- poisonous
- Cap Diameter
- 3-10 cm
- Growth Substrate
- soil
- Season
- Summer to Fall
- Spore Color
- Olive-brown to purplish-brown
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Oak
Quercus robur
Helps oak trees get water and nutrients from the soil.
symbiotic with
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Forms beneficial root connections, aiding pine tree growth.
eaten by
Black Slug
Arion ater
Slugs occasionally nibble on its developing fruiting body.
eaten by
Ground Beetle
Pterostichus melanarius
Some beetles might feed on its decomposing tissues.
Traits
Spotted
Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Common Earthball FungusEarthball MushroomScleroderma
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not touch or eat wild mushrooms without adult supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Common Earthball edible?
poisonous
How big is Common Earthball?
3-10 cm
Where is Common Earthball usually found?
Forests, grasslands, and sometimes gardens.
What does Common Earthball grow on?
soil
When is Common Earthball in season?
Summer to Fall
What color are Common Earthball spores?
Olive-brown to purplish-brown
Snap Map
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