Pisolithus arrhizus (Pers.) Rausch. syn. P. arenarius A. & S. syn. P. tinctorius (Mich. ex Pers.) Coker & Couch Erbsenstreuling Dyeball. Fruit body 6–12cm across, 5–25cm high, narrowing below into a thick stem-like base submerged in the ground, ochraceous to olive-brown and resembling balls of horse dung lying on the ground, with chrome yellow markings on the submerged part, outer wall very thin becoming brittle at maturity and readily breaking apart to expose the dark brown stony, gravel-like peridioles: pea-shaped structures which contain the spores. Spores cinnamon-brown, globose, warted, 7–11.5m in diameter. Habitat in sandy or well-drained gravelly soil in fields or roadsides. Season autumn. Very rare. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. |