Pisolithus arhizus

Pisolithus arhizus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Sclerodermataceae
Genus: Pisolithus
Species:
P. arhizus
Binomial name
Pisolithus arhizus
(Scop.) Rauschert (1959)
Synonyms
  • Lycoperdon arrizon Scop. (1786)
  • Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch (1928)

Pisolithus arhizus, commonly known as the dead man's foot, dyeball,[1] pardebal, or Bohemian truffle, is a widespread earth-ball like fungus, which may in fact be several closely related species. This puffball's black viscous gel is used as a natural dye for clothes.[2] Pisolithus arhizus is a major component in mycorrhizal fungus mixtures that are used in gardening as powerful root stimulators.[3] It is inedible.[4]

In South Africa, it is known as the pardebal, and in Europe, it is known as the Bohemian truffle.

The fruiting body is 5–30 cm tall and 4–20 cm wide, with a thin yellow-brown to brown exterior layer.[5] The spores are brown.[5]

Dictyocephalos attenuatus is similar.[5]

  1. ^ Wood, Michael; Stevens, Fred. "California Fungi: Pisolithus arhizus". MycoWeb.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Roberts 2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kuo 2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 335. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  5. ^ a b c Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 374–375. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.