23 October 2008 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Earth Ball Fruiting Body Sub-spherical, attached to the soil by mycelial cords, initially pale yellow brown, with coarse brown scales, insides ripening into a powdery spore mass which is released when the outer skin ruptures, to about 10 cm across Flesh Whitish, firm, the spore mass becoming purple brown to black with age Smell Strong, somewhat unpleasant Taste Indistinct Season Summer to autumn Distribution Very common Habitat On acidic soil with deciduous trees in woods and on heaths Microscopic Features Spores spherical, decorated with a network (9-13) µm Edibility Poisonous, causing vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea Notes This fungus sometimes plays host to the bolete Pseudoboletus parasiticus |