Handkea Lycoperdon question

[watsthat]

How easy is it to distinguish between Handkea excipuliformis and Lycoperdon perlatum ? I am aware that the former sporulates through an irregular breakout at the top of the endoperidium, whilst the latter sporulates through a small hole and that the spines or warts in the young specimens are different. They are both classed as common yet, our Gallery has many pictures of L. perlatum and only 1, (I think) of H. excipuliformis. What are the chances of some mis-identification. I had thought that the specimen in this picture was H. excipuliformis, (on the basis of size more than anything), but it looks very similar to an example in the Gallery described as L. perlatum.



Cheers

Pete

[Ditiola]

Pegler et al in' British Puffballs & Earthstars' say of Handkea exipuliformis (now Lycoperdon): "smaller subglobose forms can be separated from species of Lycoperdon by the strongly verrucose spores and sinous pores in the capilitium" [the spores are also larger]

Generally L.exipuliformis grows much larger than other species of Lycoperdon, and has a well developed stem section, however, in the case of small specimens it looks like you will have to buy yourself a microscope if you have not got one already.

Peter