Identification: Hard round white fungus

Discussion in 'Fungi, Lichens and Slime Molds' started by thesaint, Oct 1, 2010.

  1. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    Hello,
    I was hoping someone could help identify and let me know what would be a treatment for a hard fungus that I cannot identify. It is white, round and the size of a baseball. I've had several growing next to and under my driveway. It is so hard that it actually lifts the asphalt up and has ruined the driveway. Apart from digging them up, I have not been able to get rid of them. They come back every year at the end of the summer. The area is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I don't have a picture, but hopefully that is enough information for one of you experts. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. sabetts

    sabetts Active Member

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    hard round and white sounds like a puff ball of *some* kind. A picture is going to help a lot, though!
     
  3. Frog

    Frog Generous Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    If a photo is not possible, can you dig up an entire mushroom and describe it: Is it completely round like a puffball, or can you see a stem starting to grow?
     
  4. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    They are completely round and they do not have a stem growing from them.
     
  5. jac

    jac Member

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    Several kinds of mushrooms are known to be able to do such strange things like growing through asphalt
    The more frequently seen is Agaricus bitorquis, but other like Coprinus comatus or Coprinus atramontarius can do it as well.
    Give more details please
    J@C
     
  6. Harri Harmaja

    Harri Harmaja Active Member 10 Years

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  7. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    I will try and get a picture. I'm currently in Texas. My main concern is treatment to rid the fungus. Are any of the ones mentioned treatable?
     
  8. MycoRob

    MycoRob Active Member

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    i'd recommend cutting one in half - and seeing if there is a complete uniform consistence (puffball) or some structures inside (not a puffball). As for getting rid of them? Go to http://www.mushroomexpert.com/yard.html and scroll down to where it says "how do i get rid of them". Lengthy, full of details, and accurate information there.
     
  9. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    Thanks all. I'm not completely sure, but after some of your suggestions, it may be Scleroderma polyrhizum. Sounds like I'll have to make the most of it since they are there to stay and will return until they have finished. Maybe I can sell them. Anyone interested? What's the going rate?
     
  10. MycoRob

    MycoRob Active Member

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    Not sure that's how the market on these things works! However, If you pack them up for me, and throw in $25, I'll take them off your hands. Oh yeah, and you'll have to cover shipping too. :)
     
  11. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass. Are they edible? Can they be eaten raw? Anyone have any good recipes if they are ingestible?
     
  12. MycoRob

    MycoRob Active Member

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    As far as I know, no Scleroderma is edible at any stage of development. In fact, Scleroderma's are dubbed "the poison puffballs".
     
  13. togata57

    togata57 Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Perhaps the Department of Defense would be interested. Hard as iron, strong as steel, able to lift (and pulverize) whole driveways---the Poison Puffballs! Either as projectiles or as stealthy invaders these fungi are formidable adversaries.
    Trebuchet, anyone?
     
  14. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    Here is a picture. Matured now. Which Scleroderma is this?
     

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