Bovista sp?

Nettle Runner · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 09:45 AM

Lound, Notts 25 September 2011
Found during a foray with Jaybe, growing in sand under willow and birch, as a scattered group.

Considered B. puslla, but seek opinions.
Les

fairplay · #2 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 10:14 AM

This could well be, except that the name is a nomen dubium - it is now called B.dermoxantha.

What was the average size of them ?

Neil.

ashgale · #3 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 11:00 AM

any reason why this cannot be Lycoperdon perlatum ?
i only ask, as i find similar ones quite often, and always think are they just perlatum? or are they something else?

ashgale

Nettle Runner · #4 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 02:11 PM

Thanks for the name correction Neil.
They are approx 5mm dia as fresh white balls. Maybe a little larger as they grow and change colour, say 10mm.
Certainly not resembling any L. perlatum I have come across, ashgale, but thanks for the suggestion.
Les

fairplay · #5 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 02:34 PM

At this size, I would now say they are more likely to be Bovista limosa.
This is said to like dry sandy soils, but seems to be restricted to Welsh and Lancashire sand dunes.

A diagnostic feature is the raised opening from where the spores puff out and looking at the photo carefully this seems to be evident.

If others agree with me, then methinks this is a record for Kew as it is quite rare (but overlooked ?)

Neil.

EDIT: I do hope when you say 'fresh white balls' that you actually picked one up and saw that it was truly round and not Lycoperdon shaped ?

Ditiola · #6 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 07:21 PM

I have not seen either of these Bovista's myself but reading the descriptions in 'British Puffballs' by Pegler, Lassoe & Spooner, I think that perhaps B.dermoxantha may fit the specimens better as the Endoperidium is said to be "Grey-brown or occasionally other hues" and for B.limosa "reddish to umber brown" and also some photo's of B.dermoxantha seem to show a raised area around the peristome. Either way it is a very good find

Peter

fairplay · #7 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 10:21 PM

I was going purely on the size given, although B.limosa seems very unlikely as all the records are from the west coastal area.

Neil.

Ditiola · #8 (**permalink**) 28-09-2011, 05:31 PM

Neil you were right all along: It keys out as Bovista limosa, With the help of Nettlerunner, I have collected some material and put it under the microscope:

The capilitium is of the intermediate type
The spores have sterigmal remains up to 10 microns long
The operculum is raised
There is no subgleba

And as you pointed out the size is also right for this species.

Peter

flaxton · #9 (**permalink**) 28-09-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Neil you were right all along: It keys out as Bovista limosa, With the help of Nettlerunner, I have collected some material and put it under the microscope:

The capilitium is of the intermediate type
The spores have sterigmal remains up to 10 microns long
The operculum is raised
There is no subgleba

And as you pointed out the size is also right for this species.

Peter

Come on then where are the photos for our records so we know what to look for when we find it

Ditiola · #10 (**permalink**) 28-09-2011, 07:35 PM

I have been far to busy checking out todays finds to process any of my photos. I have an Inocybe that I can not name, A Cortinarius I can not name (nothing new there then!)

and I am strugling with the black-brown Peziza posed earler in the week.

Perhaps Nettlerunner or Fungi John will be able to supply a photo quicker than I can