Scleroderma areolatum is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of the genus Scleroderma, or "earth balls."
| Scleroderma areolatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Boletales |
| Family: | Sclerodermataceae |
| Genus: | Scleroderma |
| Species: | S. areolatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Scleroderma areolatum | |
Scleroderma areolatum | |
|---|---|
 | Glebal hymenium |
 | No distinct cap |
 | Hymenium attachment is not applicable |
| Lacks a stipe |
 | Spore print is purple-black to olive |
 | Ecology is mycorrhizal |
 | Edibility is poisonous |
Like most members of Scleroderma, S. areolatum resembles but is only distantly related to the giant puffball. It can be distinguished from the giant puffball by cutting it in half; the puffball will have a solid, denser middle, with no signs of a developing cap mushroom. They are usually 1–5 cm in diameter, and grow individually or in small groups.[1] They are commonly found in deciduous forests, in neutral soil. They are poisonous,[2] and ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and in larger quantities, fainting.