AuthorPegler, D.N., Laessoe, T. & Spooner, B.M.
Year1995
TitleBritish Puffballs, Earthstars & Stinkhorns
ISBN0 947643 81 8
TypeBook/Report
How CompleteAll the British species of basidiomycete gasteromycetes, including exotics and historical records, known at the time.
Source255pp, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
IllustrationsA good colour photograph and line drawings of the microscopy accompany each species entry.
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

Nicely presented work with very complete descriptions and excellent colour photographs.

The introduction contains a useful table of habitat preferences (p11-12).

The first key (p19) is to old-style orders and families, but these groups are well known so this will rarely be needed. It is followed by the orders, each with a short account, followed by a key to families, and so on. The final keys to species are followed by very full species accounts with a colour photograph and line drawings of microscopy.

Errata, Corrigenda & Comments

Incorrect page numbers in the key on page 19.

The same couplet is repeated slightly differently in some keys, eg couplet 2 on p19 is different from its equivalent in the key on page 56.

Examine in the Hand ( Compound Microscope is also useful)
Specimen PreparationThe keys to genera mainly use macroscopic characters, but microscopic examination of spores and capillitium is often required at species level. A wetting agent, eg alcohol or dilute detergent is useful to wet the spores and capillitium. Cotton blue helps to show capillitial characters.
Identification difficultyMostly straightforward, although Scleroderma, Geastrum and Lycoperdon require care.

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identificationCurrentAGARICACEAEmushrooms, dapperlings and parasols, puffballs and bird’s-nestsFungi: Agaricales
For identificationCurrentBattarrea phalloidesSandy Stiltball, Sandy Stilt PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentBovistabovists, balloon fungiFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentCalvatia giganteaGiant PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentLycoperdonpuffballsFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentLycoperdon excipuliformePestle Puffball, Pestle-shaped PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentLycoperdon pratenseMeadow PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentLycoperdon radicatumRooting Puffball, Rooting BovistFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentLycoperdon utriformeMosaic PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentQueletia mirabilisQuelet’s Stalk PuffballFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentTulostomastalkballsFungi: Agaricales: Agaricaceae
For identificationCurrentHydnangium carneumFlesh-pink TruffleFungi: Agaricales: Hydnangiaceae
For identificationCurrentGautieriaa genus of false trufflesFungi: Gomphales: Gomphaceae
For identificationSupersededGEASTRACEAEearthstarsFungi: Geastrales
For identificationCurrentHYSTERANGIACEAEstinkhorn trufflesFungi: Hysterangiales
For identificationCurrentPHALLACEAEstinkhorns and cage fungiFungi: Phallales
For identification, Basidiomycete species onlyCurrent[Gasteromycetes]puffballs, earthstars, earthballs, stinkhorns, truffles etc.Fungi
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