Mushroom like a volcano - Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum)

By marianomariano68 | Nature, animals, plants, mushrooms | 19 Sep 2022

Despite the rainfall, there are not many species of mushrooms in the forest. I was able to spot the remarkable Lemon Grassskin in several stages of growth. As a mature individual, during the breeding season, and after the spore has emerged.

Lemon crowskin, irregularly spherical or bulbous in shape, has no stem, grows up to 10-15 cm in diameter. It is hard and heavy, with a strong spicy smell. Straw-yellow, ocher-yellow or yellow-brown-ocher in color, covered with flat warts 1.5-4 mm high. It occurs almost all over the world. It grows on soil in sands and acidic soils, on the edge of forests, in parks, also outside forests, on pastures, stony areas, peat bogs, in thickets. This specimen was found in the Lublin region. It is harmless in small amounts and is used as a spice mushroom in some regions of Europe. However, when eaten in large amounts, it can cause poisoning. It tastes a bit like truffles and is therefore suitable as a seasoning for meats and cold cuts. However, only young white mushrooms inside can be used. I have not tried and I am not going to experiment, it looks nice enough for me.