Photo 142374831, no rights reserved, uploaded by AdventureLisa

Attribution By AdventureLisa
no rights reserved
Uploaded by adventurelisa adventurelisa
Source iNaturalist
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

False Puffball (Reticularia lycoperdon)

Observer

adventurelisa

Date

July 10, 2021 02:04 PM SAST

Description

I spotted this one on Friday evening in the fading light. I returned on Saturday afternoon for a good look and to take photos.
On Friday evening it felt more moist and squishy - the texture of a milktart. The 'skin' came off to the touch to exposure the squishy inside.
Not quite 24hrs later, the outside was more dry and the whole thing felt more firm and less squishy.
Later the same day I went past again and noticed the remnants of an old, dried-out form lower down on the same tree. Possibly the same thing. Load of 'dusty' brown spores.

Three days later the skin was more dry and starting to crack. The whole thing firm to the touch. Brown spore mass now visible.

I've logged three observations as this developed:
Saturday, 10 July 2021.
Tuesday, 13 July 2021.
Monday, 19 July 2021 - skin is dry and starting to crack. Spore mass inside is formed and dry.

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