Albino Lycoperdon nigrescens

[SheffieldLass]

Found two days ago in unimproved acid grassland. The spines forming wigwams fused at the top are rather similar to Lycopedon nigrescens, only this is white .... I've looked through the list of British ones and the only white one described as having these type of spores is Lycoperdon caudatum, though L marginatum also does, though that hasn't been found in Britain yet.



Have I missed an obvious one that this could be?

Melanie

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Found two days ago in unimproved acid grassland. The spines forming wigwams fused at the top are rather similar to Lycopedon nigrescens, only this is white .... I've looked through the list of British ones and the only white one described as having these type of spores is Lycoperdon caudatum, though L marginatum also does, though that hasn't been found in Britain yet.



Have I missed an obvious one that this could be?

Melanie

Hi Melanie

L. nigrescens is pure white when young but fades quickly to it's normal dark colour when mature.

John

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Melanie

L. nigrescens is pure white when young but fades quickly to it's normal dark colour when mature.

John

Bovista nigrescens is white before it loses the outer wall and the inner one weathers dark but as I understand Lycoperdon nigrescens starts off with dark spines, or the ones round here seem to. They haven't shown up yet this year. However having checked things like the gleba (which has sepate paracapitillia) and subgleba these actually appear to be just very spiny Vascellum pratense or should that now be Lycoperdon pratense.

Melanie

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

However having checked things like the gleba (which has sepate paracapitillia) and subgleba these actually appear to be just very spiny Vascellum pratense or should that now be Lycoperdon pratense.

Melanie

I managed to look at the Kew volume on puffballs today and they do say that the spines of Lycoperdon pratense can form the wigwam fused tip shape, so I'm now well satisfied that that is what they are. I'm more use to seeing them appearing warty, but maybe I've just not looked closely enough at them all, or maybe weather/weathering conditions affect their growth/appearance. There were some there that did not have the fused spines that I'd already decided were L pratense.