Battarrea phalloides
| Battarrea phalloides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Agaricaceae |
| Genus: | Battarrea |
| Species: | B. phalloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Battarrea phalloides | |
| Synonyms | |
| Battarrea phalloides | |
|---|---|
| Glebal hymenium | |
| Cap is conical | |
| Hymenium attachment is not applicable | |
| Stipe has a volva | |
| Spore print is ochre | |
| Ecology is saprotrophic | |
| Edibility is inedible | |
Battarrea phalloides is a species of mushroom in the family Agaricaceae, and the type species of the genus Battarrea. Its common names include the scaley-stalked puffball, sandy stiltball, and desert stalked puffball.
It has a woody, slender, and shaggy or scaly stem that is typically up to 40 centimeters (15.7 in) in length. Although its general appearance resembles an agaric with stem and gills, atop the stem is a spore sac, consisting of a peridium and a powdery internal gleba. In maturity, the spore sac ruptures to release the spores. The species is found in dry, sandy locations throughout the world, and has been collected from Africa, Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas. It is inedible.