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Earth-ballMonday 9th October 2000, 2/2, West Yorkshire |
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ON SUCH A WET AFTERNOON we keep our heads down as we walk along the embankment of a former railway track between Notton and Newmillerdam Country Park. At least we get a good look at the ground beneath our feet. These fungi were growing amongst the grass beneath Silver Birches at the trackside.
This Earth-ball Fungus, Scleroderma verrucosum, is larger than the little Lycoperdon Puff-ball I sketched in the garden the other day. It grows on sandy soils on heaths and in woods. The thick base of the fungus is ribbed, like a miniature tree trunk. The brown spores float out in a whisp of smoke when I press the leathery, warted surface between my fingers.
The cap of this white toadstool (which I'm not attempting to identify) stains purple-black when bruised. The white stem has slight suede like coating. It tapers to a brown base. The gills are pale brown; the colour of old faded newspaper. It grows under birches, glistening when wet.
Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail; 'richard@willowisland.co.uk'
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