Potato Earthball - Scleroderma bovista

A medium-sized earthball with a smooth or finely roughened peridium or outer skin.  The peridium is thin, < 2 mm in section.  It has a short pseudostipe or stem. 

The Leopard Earthball, Scleroderma areolatum also has a short stem and thin peridium,or outer skin; but the skin is scaly and each scale is surrounded by a paler ring zone.  The Scaly Earthball, Scleroderma verrucosum, has a long pseudostipe.

Photograph in habitat and in close up detail to show surface pattern;  cut the specimen vertically through the centre to show the thin peridium or outer skin and the short pseudostipe or stem; note habitat, substrate and associated tree species.  It is helpful to provide an indication of size.

Associated with Lime trees and preferring sandier soils.

Autumn.

Widespread in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.