Puffballs

Puffball fungi are a class of fungi that do not have a ‘mushroom’-shaped cap with gills or pores, or stems. Puffball fruiting bodies are generally spherical or pear-shaped. Their spores are formed and contained within the body of the fruit. As the fruit matures, the ‘puffball’ either splits open to expose the spores, or a small vent is formed in the top of the ‘ball’ through which the spores are expelled when the fruit is nudged by an animal, or a raindrop, etc. (YouTube video link).

 Collared Earthstar

Earthstars are fairly common in our native forest reserves where they grow in the leaf litter on the ground.

Earthstar Puffball - Rokeby Rail Trail

As the fruit develops, the outer skin hardens and when conditions are right, splits radially into a star pattern. This can take just a few minutes to happen, or as long as 3-4 hours.

 Pear-shaped Puffball

Shaped like an inverted pear, these puffballs grow on dead wood, old stumps, etc.

Pear-shaped Puffball - Nangara Reserve Jindivick

Pear-shaped Puffballs: Lycoperdon pyriforme – lyco = wolf, perdon = flatulence/pardon (I’ll let your imaginations work that out – refer to the video link above for a clue – a mycologist with a sense of humour?) and pyriforme = pear-shaped.

 Horse Dung Fungus

Pisolithus arhizus while not a ‘puff’ball in the true sense of the word, they are an ally in the sense that their spores are manufactured and stored inside the rounded body of the fruit. They are often found growing in hard gravel surfaces on the sides of roads and tracks.

Horse Dung Fungus - Golden Whistler Reserve Drouin

As the fruit matures, the outer layers begin to disintegrate and the top spores are exposed to the atmosphere, ready for distribution by wind, rain, or animals.

So much to learn!