| Bovista aestivalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Lycoperdales |
| Family: | Lycoperdaceae |
| Genus: | Bovista |
| Species: | B. aestivalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bovista aestivalis (Bonord.) Demoulin |
|
Bovista aestivalis is a small puffball generally found in the coastal regions of California. This fungus is often confused with Bovista dermoxantha, because of its similar peridium, and Bovista plumbea. The surest way to tell the species apart is to examine the spores and exoperidium, respectively, with a microscope.[1]
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The fruiting body is 1.5-3.0 cm broad and varies in shape from spherical to pulvinate. In addition, it is attached to the substrate by dense masses of hyphae. At first, the exoperidium is white; originally covered in dense filaments, it breaks up into buff, fine warts. With age, a brown, thin endoperidium becomes exposed underneath.[1] The spores are released via a ragged apical pore. The gleba is soft, changing from white, to olive and eventually medium-brown.[2]
The globose spores are 3.5-4.5 µm in length and moderately thick-walled with smooth warts. In the center lies an oil droplet and a stub-like pedicel. In addition, there is a capillitium from the central part of the gleba with numerous minute pits.[3]
Bovista aestivalis is generally scattered and/or in small groups on edges of grassy areas along paths. They can also be found in coastal dunes among herbs and shrubs. When watered, they will fruit during the summer months and throughout the fall and winter after periods of rain. Because of their small size, they are often inconspicuous; despite their edibility, they are often too small to be of value.[4]
Obsolete synonyms for Bovista aestivalis include Bovista cepiformis (Bull.) Massee, Globaria furfuraceum (Schaeff.) Qul. 1873, Lycoperdon aestivale Bonord. 1851, Lycoperdon cepiforme Bull. 1791, Lycoperdon ericetorum var. cepiforme (Bull.) Bowerman 1961, and Lycoperdon furfuraceum Schaeff. 1770.[5]