280 days of Urbpandemonium #90

[urbpan]

The fleshlike lumps in this mossy floor are mushrooms produced by yet another member of the mycorrhizal forest community. Like puffballs, their interior will change into spores that will become airborne when stepped on, rained on, or otherwise disturbed. Unlike puffballs, before this happens their interior is a dense purple cheeselike medium. Also unlike puffballs, these are poisonous to humans and some other mammals (including, in one account, a potbellied pig). These are pigskin earthballs Scleroderma citrinum*--earthballs being a nonsense term invented to disabuse mushroom foragers from thinking these are true puffballs. In my experience, this is one of the more common urban mycorrhizal mushrooms, often emerging (as here) on pathways and even alongside paved areas.


Why a cow nose?

* "Hard skinned lemon (more or less, work with me here)"