Dead man's hand
Scleroderma polyrhizum
A species of Earth balls. Also known as Earthstar scleroderma, Earthstar puffball.
Often called a false truffle, an experienced observer would readily distinguish the dead man's hand from those prized fungi. This substantial, puffball-like mushroom matures underground, slowly surfacing until its outer layer splits open into a star-shaped reproductive structure. The dead man's hand is deemed poisonous, and novice foragers must take care to avoid mixing it up with edible puffballs.
In This Article
Attributes of Dead man's hand
Flesh
Thick; very tough; display red brown when cut and exposured
Spore Print Color
Dark brown
Odor
Mildly spicy, reminiscent of gas.
Body Color
BrownYellow
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Solitary, Scattered, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic, Mycorrhizal
Substrate
On soil
You can find Dead man's hand by these plants
Pitch pine
Occurence Habitats
Disturbed Lands, Meadows
Species Status
Widely distributed
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Dead man's hand
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Boletes and allies
Family
Hard-skinned puffballs
Genus
Earth balls
Toxicity and Edibility of Dead man's hand
Is Dead man's hand Toxic?
The 'dead man's hand' fungus is poisonous; consuming it can cause various adverse effects. You should avoid contact with this particular mushroom.
