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Gasteromycetes Gallery

The Gasteromycetes - puffballs, stinkhorns and earthballs - are sometimes referred to as the 'stomach fungi' because they produce a spore mass 'gleba' that develops inside the fruit body until the spores are mature. 

A few of the larger fungi in this group - notably some of the puffballs - are considered edible, but most others are tasteless and several of the earthballs are poisonous.

Larger pictures, identification guides and a wealth of information on these and hundreds of other species are contained on the First-Nature CD-ROM Guide to Fungi.

The Gasteromycetes are sometimes referred to as the 'stomach' fungi because the fertile material develops inside spherical or pear-shaped fruit bodies. At maturity the fruit bodies split open to release their powdery spores.

 Earthballs are inedible. And by the time stinkhorns make their presence known (anyone with a nose can locate a common stinkhorn from 100 metres downwind) they are most definitely not fit for human consumption (although flies seem to enjoy them).

Ball fungi grow either on the ground or occasionally on rotting wood.

Puffballs and Earthballs

Puffballs are edible when young and white throughout, before the brown spores begin to develop. Earthballs are inedible and some are poisonous.

Stump puffball
Lycoperdon
pyriforme

Stinkhorns

There are several stinkhorn species but most are quite rare except for the Common Stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus, and the Dog stinkhorn, Mutinus caninus. Both occur in woodland.

Stinkhorn
Phallus
impudicus

There are more than 100 European species identified within the Gasteromycetes.

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