Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma bovista(?) in West Kotlin Nature Reserve in Kronstadt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 2, 2018Synonyms: Scleroderma fuscum, Scleroderma verrucosum, Tuber fuscum.
Common name: potato earthball.
Russian names: Lozhnodozhdevik porkhovkovyy, Lozhnodozhdevik krasno-korichnevyy, Skleroderma-porkhovka.
Scleroderma bovista is a species of fungus that belongs to the family Sclerodermataceae. It is characterized by its globose to subglobose shape, ranging in size from 2-8 cm in diameter, with a smooth to verrucose peridium that is often covered in fine, downy hairs. The flesh is firm and white, turning yellowish or brownish upon injury. In St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, and north-western Russia, Scleroderma bovista has been found growing in coniferous and mixed forests, typically on sandy or podzolic soils, often associated with pine, spruce, or birch trees. Fruitings usually occur from late summer to early autumn, with a peak in September. The species is considered common in the region, but its distribution can be scattered and patchy.
Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma bovista(?) in West Kotlin Nature Reserve in Kronstadt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 2, 2018
Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma bovista in West Kotlin Nature Reserve in Kronstadt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 2, 2018
Kronshtadtskoye Shosse, 47, Kronshtadt, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 197761
Potato earthball mushrooms (Scleroderma bovista) in Tarkhovka Park, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 2, 2024Приморское шоссе, Тарховка, Сестрорецк, Санкт-Петербург, Северо-Западный федеральный округ, 197706, РоссияObservations of Scleroderma bovista in Leningrad Oblast and north-western Russia reveal its presence in various locations. In the West Kotlin Nature Reserve in Kronstadt, Saint Petersburg, the fungus was spotted on September 2, 2018, with multiple sightings recorded. Additionally, it was found in Tarkhovka Park, west of Saint Petersburg, on August 2, 2024. The earthball mushrooms were identified as Scleroderma bovista, with some specimens referred to as "potato earthball mushrooms". These observations suggest that the species is present in the region's nature reserves and parks, and can be found during late summer months. The repeated sightings in the same general area indicate that Scleroderma bovista may be a relatively common species in Leningrad Oblast and north-western Russia. Further study would be needed to determine its distribution and abundance in the region.
Russian web-forums Planeta Gribov, V Kontakte, and Griby Sredney Polosy for learning names of local mushrooms.
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