Life in Newburgh on Ythan

By Talpa

A big puffball!

These are, I think Mosaic Puffballs Handkea utriformis.
When this gastromycete fungus was first described scientifically, it was given the specific epithet utriforme, which means 'shaped like a womb'. The common name Mosaic Puffball refers to the mosaic-like pattern of flakes that cover the surface of fruitbodies when they are young.
As the fruitbody matures it can reach 6 to 15cm across and up to 15cm tall. Eventually it turns greyish brown and then ruptures open allowing the wind and rain to disperse the millions of mature spores. It might be billions but I haven't counted them!
The base of a Mosaic Puffball is more or less a blunt-ended inverted cone; it contains a small amount of spongy, infertile material attached to the ground that persists long after the spores have been distributed.

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