This specimen was waterlogged and this gave the inside of the fruit body a glistening, blackish-purple colouration, which shows through the cracks in the skin. In the lower left of Photo 2 I show part of the fruit body after it had been dried. You now see a purplish-brown internal colour. At the upper right you see some spores. At the lower right I show the two illustrations that accompanied the first published report of this species (as Lycoperdon cyathiforme) by Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc in 1811. He showed only sterile bases, which may remain long after the spores have all gone. He said that the figure on the left shows such a specimen whole and the other shows one cut vertically. I assume that the slight blotchiness represents the holey, sponge-like interior of that sterile base. I have copied the drawings from the historical journals provided online by the Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen.
Describe how you intend to use these images and/or audio files and your request will be sent to the author for consideration.
Your request has been successfully submitted to the author for consideration.
1,893,031 sightings of 21,044 species in 9,272 locations from 12,889 contributors CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.