Lycoperdon marginatum
Lycoperdon marginatum, commonly known as the peeling puffball, is a type of puffball mushroom in the genus Lycoperdon. It is characterized by the way that the spiny outer layer peels off in sheets. A common species, it is found in Europe and North America, where it grows on the ground.
Taxonomy
The species was first described scientifically in 1839 by Vittadini. Molecular analysis places it the species in the subgenus Lycoperdon of the genus Lycoperdon, along with L. perlatum and L. norvegicum.It is commonly known as the peeling puffball.
Description
The fruit bodies of Lycoperdon marginatum are roughly spherical when young, becoming flattened and more pear-shaped in maturity, and have dimensions of wide. A short, tapering stalk holds the fruit body. Initially white, the surface of the peridium is densely covered with short spines; the spines eventually fall off in irregular sheets, exposing the smooth, brown underlying surface. Mature fruit bodies form a small opening at the top through which spores are released.The internal spore-bearing tissue, the gleba, is initially white and firm, but becomes greenish-brown and then greyish-brown and powdery at the mushroom matures. The spores are spherical, covered with minute warts, and measure 3.5–4.5 μm. It has yellowish-brown capillitium threads that have a few pores or septa, and measure 6–7 μm wide.
Lycoperdon echinatum is similar is appearance, but its spines do not break off in sheets. The exoperidium of L. rimulatum sometimes peels off in sheets, but it does not have spines on its surface.