Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

How Does a Puffball Fungus Eject Spores Into the Air?

How Does a Puffball Fungus Eject Spores Into the Air? thumbnail
How Does a Puffball Fungus Eject Spores Into the Air?

Puffballs are fungi. They produce spherical or globular reproductive structures that contain a mass of spores. Puffball spores are not forcibly discharged as they are in mushrooms but require an external force for dispersal. People commonly step on puffballs or kick them just to see the spores puff into the air.

  1. Puffball Classification

    • Puffballs are Basidiomycetes. Common genera are Lycoperdon and Calvatia. Unlike typical mushrooms, puffballs do not have a cap and gills.

    Puffball Structure

    • Puffballs have a spongy white- to brown-colored covering, with a mass of spores (usually brown or purple) inside. The spores are ready for dispersal when they become a fine powder.

    Wind Dispersal

    • Spores can be puffed out of a hole in the top of a puffball by gusts of wind. Wind easily disperses spores when the outer covering is degraded to completely expose the spore mass.

    Rain Dispersal

    • Raindrops can strike the outer surface of a puffball to puff spores out the top. Rain can also effectively scatter exposed spores.

    Animal Dispersal

    • Animals disperse spores by coming into contact with a mature puffball. Animals can carry spores in their fur for long distances.

Related Searches:

References

Resources

  • Photo Credit Puffball Fungus (Photo by Bryant Olsen)

Comments

You May Also Like

  • Puffball Fungus in My Lawn

    Puffball fungi are rounded fungal bodies that appear in yards as well as in other grassy or forested areas. These fungi are...

  • Puffball Fungi in Grass

    Puffballs, mushrooms, toadstools and stinkhorns are all different fruiting bodies of fungi and primarily responsible for fungal reproduction via the distribution of...

  • How to Kill Fungus Spores

    Fungi, including molds and mildews, spread by producing tiny spores. Fungal spores develop into fungus when they are in a favorable environment....

  • How to Grow Puffball Mushrooms

    Puffball mushrooms look like something alien in the landscape. The mature mushrooms are the ones you see children kicking to release the...

  • Where Does Fungus Come From?

    Fungus is found wherever moisture, warmth and organic matter are present. Since these organisms are microscopic, they cannot be seen individually with...

  • Fungus Puffballs on My Lawn

    Large puffy, white balls that appear on lawns are a type of fungus. These fungal spheres are not harmful to people or...

  • What Eats the Purple-Spored Puffball Mushroom?

    The purple-spored puffball, Calvatia cyathiformis, is a large, edible species of mushroom that grows above ground, most commonly in grassy areas like...

  • Edible Plants That Live in the Deciduous Forest

    Deciduous forests are filled with diverse plant life. A deciduous forest's range of plant species depends on the region where it is...

  • Seed Dispersal Mechanisms-Australian Plants

    Seed Dispersal Mechanisms-Australian Plants. Plants grow wild all across the world. Many plants grow from seeds, but these seeds have many mechanisms...

  • How to Hunt for Giant Puffball Mushrooms

    Tracking down a basket full of giant puffball mushrooms (Calvatia booniana) can be a rewarding experience. Whether hunting them to clean and...

  • How Do Plants That Float in Water Do Seed Dispersal?

    Plants grow in most habitats and can even be found in freshwater and saltwater around the world. Although land plants reproduce by...

  • Puffballs Are Growing in My Yard

    Puffballs describe mushrooms of a particular shape: domed and round. This is not one particular type of mushroom but rather a collection...

  • Fungus in My Landscape

    Home gardeners often find fungus in their landscapes. Periods of wet weather often cause nuisance fungus and mold to develop, especially in...

  • How to Make a Puff Ball Out of Yarn

    Yarn puff balls give knitted items such as hats, scarves and mittens a finishing touch. Yarn puffs may look difficult to create,...

  • How to Remove Black Fungus From Air Conditioning

    Mold and fungus in a home, if unchecked, can lead to multiple health problems. Common household cleaning products can clean away mold...

  • How to Make a Puffball With Cardboard

    Yarn puffballs, also known as pom-poms, not only embellish knitted and crocheted items, such as hats and scarves, but also play a...

  • Purple Lawn Fungi

    A number of fungi, microscopic organisms, cause diseases in turfgrasses. Though grasses are also prone to problems caused by poor cultural conditions...

  • Mushrooms: Edible Vs. Poisonous

    If you buy edible wild mushrooms at the market, many cost over $30 a pound. Yet, these same mushrooms grow wild and...

  • How to Group Plants into Flowering and Nonflowering Activity

    While there are some flowers that have a long blooming season, if you want a continuously blooming garden, you will have to...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured