Bovista nigrescens

Description

Bovista nigrescens is an edible cream-white or brown puffball. The fruiting body is 3 to 6 cm across and is attached to the substrate by a single mycelial cord which often breaks, leaving the fruit body free to roll about in the wind. The outer wall is white at first, but soon flakes off in large scales at maturity to expose the dark purple-brown to the blackish inner wall that encloses the spore mass.

Common names: Brown Puffball, Brown Balloon, Brown Bovist.

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruit Body

   3–6 cm across. The roughly spherical fruit body is slightly pointed at the bottom. Although it lacks a sterile base, the fruit body is attached to the substrate by a single mycelial cord which often breaks, leaving the fruit body free to roll about in the wind. The outer wall is white at first, but soon flakes off in large scales at maturity to expose the dark purple-brown to the blackish inner wall that encloses the spore mass. These spores leave via an apical pore, which is caused by extensive splitting and cracking. The gleba is often dark purple-brown. The capillitium is highly branched with brown dendroid elements.

2. Spores

   Brown and ovoid, with a diameter of 4.5–6 µm. They are thick-walled, and nearly smooth, with a central oil droplet, and a long, warted pedicel.

3. Habitat and Distribution

   Bovista nigrescens puffballs are often found in grass and pastureland. Although they are found most abundantly in late summer to autumn, they persist in old dried condition for many months. They are uncommon in most areas, but frequent in North and West Europe. They are edible when young. In addition, they are found on the ground, fields, lawns, and roadsides. Typically, they may be found at an altitude of up to 2,500 meters (8,202 feet).

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Annelis (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Photo 3 - Author: Kahvilokki (CC BY-SA 4.0)