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Scleroderma

Notes

Exctomycorrhizal, puff-ball-like fungi, dark purple inside when immature (compared to the white flesh of the 'true' puffballs), brown, powdery spore masses when mature, opening by irregular, ragged hole, the opening often very large with time. Following spore release the folded-back remains of the walls of the fruiting body may perist for some time.
Both indigenous and exotic species, poorly understood taxonomically for New Zealand.

Name (click to select)Image (click to enlarge)
 Scleroderma aurantium
 Scleroderma bovista  
 Scleroderma cepa  
 Scleroderma hypogaeum  
 Scleroderma verrucosum