Scleroderma citrinum — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Mushroom, Fungus

The mushroom is eaten.

Known Hazards

Scleroderma citrinum is poisonous and can be mistaken with truffles by inexperienced mushroom hunters. Ingestion of S. citrinum can cause gastrointestinal distress in humans and animals. Some individuals may experience lacrimation, rhinitis and rhinorrhea, and conjunctivitis from exposure to its spores. Pigments found in the fruiting body of S. citrinum Pers. are sclerocitrin, norbadione A, xerocomic acid, and badione A.

Documented Toxic Effects

diarrheagastrointestinal disorderstomach crampsvomiting

Source: Encyclopedia of Life TraitBank. Toxicity often varies by plant part — consult the hazards section above for preparation-specific details.

Where to Find It

It grows in soil in moist places in mixed forests.

Asia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A mushroom fungus of the family Sclerodermataceae that grows in soil in moist places within mixed forests and is sold in local markets in Nepal.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Scleroderma citrinum, commonly known as the common earthball, pigskin poison puffball, or common earth ball, is a species of earthball fungus.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets in Nepal.

Notes

Also put in the family Lycoperdiaceae.

Names & Synonyms

Phusphure chyau, Dalle chyau

References (4)

Boa, E. R., 2004, Wild edible fungi and their importance to people. FAO Non Wood Forest Products Booklet 17
Devkota, S., 2008, Distribution and Status of Highland mushrooms: A study from Dolpa, Nepal. J.Nat.Hist.Mus.Vol.23,2008, 51-59
Joshi, K. and Joshi, A. R., 2008, Ethnobotanical Studies on Some Lower Plants of the Central Development Region, Nepal. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12:832-40
Li, H., et al, 2020, Reviewing the world’s edible mushroom species: A new evidence-based classification system. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021;20:1982–2014.