Day 336: It has been quite a while since I had a botanical puzzle which required breaking out the microscope, but with several look-alike Scleroderma species, the determining factor for an identification rested upon the spores. I've been watching the growth of some odd "puffballs" (clarification will come later in this post) under the contorted filbert for over a week now. They were much larger than any I'd ever seen, three inches or so in diameter. One finally developed a single apical pore (also diagnostic in making a correct ID), venting its spores through the opening. I settled in with my references, but found myself frustrated by the similarity of several species. One book specific to the Pacific Northwest suggested Scleroderma verrucosum, but checking for possible synonyms in a more reliable source told me that species does not occur here. I got out a bigger metaphorical "shovel," knowing that I'd have to do deeper digging if I was to solve this mycological mystery. In the end, I learned that the spores were key. If they were spiky like the covid virus, the "puffball" was Scleroderma areolatum. If they were smooth, I might as well give up. Fortunately, at 1000x magnification, the spikes were visible, and what I had was not a puffball, but an Earthball, somewhat unusual and not previously recorded in Pierce County. I love it when I find botanical mysteries in my own back yard!
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