With Yew in a church yard. 22 October 2021 Medstead, East Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Fruiting Body Initially sub-spherical to egg shaped, the outer skin splits at the apex and folds back into 6 to 9 arms which are often arched beneath the fungus, revealing a ball shaped sack containing the spores with an apical opening, or peristome, in the thin outer skin. The peristome is beak like, and distinctly lined or furrowed. The spore sack has a distinct basal collar and is held aloft on a narrow stalk. The spore sack is initially whitish to pale brown, becoming dark brown and smooth with age, and about 10 to 25 mm across. The extended arms are about 30 to 65 mm across. Smell Indistinct Taste Unknown Season Autumn, although fruiting bodies may survive for many months Distribution Infrequent Habitat In parks, gardens, cemeteries and on dunes Spore Print Dark yellow brown Microscopic Features Spores spherical, warty (5-6) µm across including warts Edibility Inedible Notes G. pectinatum is rather similar but its spore sack lacks a basal collar. |