Sclerodermaceae

Sclerodermaceae is a family of basidiomycete fungi in the order Boletales, within the class Agaricomycetes. The family includes several genera, with Scleroderma as the type genus, and the name derives from features of the fruiting bodies. Members are commonly referred to as earthballs due to their thick, tough outer walls and compact, enclosed interiors.

Morphology within Sclerodermaceae is diverse but shares several distinctive features. The fruit bodies are typically large, globose to irregular, and have a thick peridium (outer rind) that is corky or leathery. The interior gleba starts pale and becomes progressively dark, often brown to black, as spores mature. The gleba is usually compact and may consist of many locules in which spores develop. When mature, the outer surface may crack or peel away, but the spore mass remains enclosed prior to dispersal.

Ecology and distribution: Species in this family are predominantly ectomycorrhizal, forming symbiotic associations with various trees, including conifers and hardwoods. They occur worldwide, with a concentration in temperate regions, and fruiting bodies appear on soil or leaf litter, typically in late summer to autumn, sometimes following rainfall. They can be solitary or form small clusters.

Toxicity and uses: Most Sclerodermaceae species are considered inedible or poisonous, and ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress. They are primarily of interest to mycologists for taxonomy and phylogeny; modern molecular studies have influenced the circumscription and composition of the family in some classifications.