Earth Balls ID guide

eunatural · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 08:23 AM

Hi how do you tell the earth balls apart? is there a key published or are there macro id features. I find them difficult when young more than anything.

Scleroderma citrinum seems commonest but am I missing others?

Tracey.

Ditiola · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 09:14 AM

Hi

There are 6 species of Scleroderma in the UK: There is a good article and key to species by Malcolm Storey in:
Field Mycology (2009) Vol.10(4) p122

He does say however: "Note: Earthball identifications should always
be checked microscopically"

Peter

Ditiola · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 11:27 AM

Hi

I have written you a key:

Key to Scleroderma in the UK

Skin thick over 3mm = 2
Skin thin under 3mm = 3

2 Skin ussually with coarse scales, common in woods and on heaths; Spores 10 -13µm, reticulate …. S.citrinum
2 Skin smooth, Spores spiny = 4

3 With a stem like base that is often flattened and deeply grooved; Spores 8 -11 (-13.5) µm, spiny, the spines 0.8 -1.5 µm high …. S.verrucosum
3 Without a stem like base = 5

4 Fruit body 2-6cm diameter Outer skin often flaking away slowly; Spores 9 -14 (-15) µm, spiny, spines thick 1 - 2.5 µm high … S.cepa
4 Fruit body 4-15 cm diameter, skin splitting to form star shape; Spores 8-12 µm, reticulate with a low broken reticulum… S.polyrhizum (A rare Mediterranean species sometimes found in UK)

5 Skin with fine scales surrounded by darker lines (areolate); Spores 11-14 (-15) µm, spiny with spines 1.4 – 2.5 µm high.… S.aureolatum
5 Skin smooth to finely areolate, often in parks and gardens with Tillia (and other trees), Spores 11 – 14.5 µm, reticulate, with a reticulum 1 – 2 µm high … S.bovista

Peter

eunatural · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2011, 05:56 AM

thankyou Peter

flaxton · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 07:20 PM

One thing the key does not mention is that S areolatum usually has a small "stem like base" so can be confused in the field with S verrucosum.

Mal

Chris Yeates · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Hi

There are 6 species of Scleroderma in the UK: There is a good article and key to species by Malcolm Storey in:
Field Mycology (2009) Vol.10(4) p122

He does say however: "Note: Earthball identifications should always
be checked microscopically"

Peter

Peter is quite correct - for example check out this thread:

Common or not?

which underlines the necessity for microscopy in most non S. citrinum cases

Chris