Is this a Bovista?

[alge]

I saw these poking through the lawn and was wondering if they are Bovista. After reading what i can and looking through past threads i think macroscopically I've gone as far as i can.

Growing on a well maintained lawn. Size around 20mm. Scales showing on the underside of the mature specimen and maybe starting to form on the top of the younger one. The mature one has that metallic sheen often mentioned and the central opening releasing spores. They have no stem and lifted from the mycelium easily leaving a few wispy strands still attached.



I am going to plump for Bovista plumbea.

Any help appreciated

Alex

[treecreeper]

I'm sure that's Bovista plumbea. The mature spore sac has the right leaden colour.

[alge]

Thanks for the confirm, another nice find from the garden.

[Ditiola]

I will second that!

The main differences between Lycoperdon and Bovista are that
Lycoperdon has:
A spongy area at the base without any capillitium threads or spores
Long entangled Capallitium threads that are not easily teased apart
An apical ostiole where the spore come out
Are ussually pear shapped

Bovista has:
No spongy sterile base
Capillitium threads is discrete small units that can easily be teased apart
No proper apical ostiole, although the will be a rough hole for the spore to come out
Are usually spherical

Another common genus on grass is Vacellum this is squat pear shaped, It is similar to Lycoperdon but has a membrane between the sterile spongy base and the capillitium/spore area.

Peter

[alge]

Thanks for your detailed, response Peter thats kept me busy for a bit.

I failed to mention the olive/brown fluffy contents of one that i cut open, which i assume are the Capillitium threads that you refer to.

Alex