Kõrksenelised

Kõrksenelised, commonly known as puffballs, are a cosmopolitan group of fungi belonging to the order Agaricales. They are characterized by their spherical or pear-shaped fruiting bodies, which typically lack a distinct stem and gills. Instead, their spores develop internally within a mass of gleba. When the fruiting body matures, the outer wall (peridium) breaks open, releasing a powdery cloud of spores. This spore dispersal mechanism is what gives them their common name.

The size of puffballs varies greatly, ranging from tiny species a few millimeters across to very large ones that can exceed a meter in diameter. Their color is usually white or cream when young, often darkening with age as the spores mature. The texture of the peridium can be smooth, leathery, or spiny depending on the species. Many puffballs are edible when young and firm, before the gleba starts to develop into a powdery mass. However, it is crucial to correctly identify puffballs as some poisonous mushrooms can resemble them in their early stages.

Ecologically, puffballs are saprophytic, meaning they obtain nutrients by decomposing organic matter in soil, wood, and dung. They play an important role in nutrient cycling within their ecosystems. Their distribution is widespread, found in grasslands, forests, and meadows across the globe.