Scleroderma (fungus)

For the autoimmune disease, see scleroderma.
"Earth ball" redirects here. For reference to the shape of Earth, see Spherical Earth. For the large ball used in cooperative games, see cage ball.

Scleroderma
Scleroderma texense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Sclerodermataceae
Genus: Scleroderma
Pers.
Type species
Scleroderma verrucosum
(Bull.) Pers. (1801)

Scleroderma is a genus of fungi, commonly known as earth balls, now known to belong to the Boletales order, in suborder Sclerodermatineae.[1] The best known species are S. citrinum and S. verrucosum. They are found worldwide. Various members of this genus are used as inoculation symbionts to colonize and promote the growth of tree seedlings in nurseries.[2] They are not edible.

The name comes from the Greek sclera meaning hard and derma meaning skin.

  1. ^ Binder M, Hibbett DS., M; Hibbett, DS (2006). "Molecular systematics and biological diversification of Boletales". Mycologia. 98 (6): 971–81. doi:10.3852/mycologia.98.6.971. PMID 17486973.
  2. ^ Chen YL; Liu S; Dell B. (2007). "Mycorrhizal status of Eucalyptus plantations in south China and implications for management". Mycorrhiza. 17 (6): 527–35. doi:10.1007/s00572-007-0125-6. PMID 17406907.