Earthball is technically not a mushroom; rather it is in a group of fungi called puffballs. The spores are formed inside an enclosed fruiting body and becoming dusty at maturity at which time the fruiting body breaks open allowing the spores to be windblown away. This fruiting body is roundish to oblong, 2-4" wide by 1-3" high, brown to yellow-brown, covered with small dark brown, rough warts. The peridum or rind is thick, yellow-brown, interior surface of peridium yellow. Gleba (interior or spore mass) is white initially becoming marbled purple and finally purple-brown to dark brown as spores become mature. Although a native of North Carolina, it is more frequent in the western mountains. It can be found in forests or other natural areas. Singly, or in small groups on soil or rotted wood in mixed conifer-hardwood forests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Patient may experience vomiting, sweating, pailor weakness, and unconsciousness. Symptoms may develop in 30 to 45 minutes but there is not consistent time frame known. There is some indication that ingestion with alcohol may have an additive effect.