Synonyms: Areolaria venosa, Scleroderma venosum.
Scleroderma texense is a species of fungus that belongs to the family Sclerodermataceae. It is a type of earthball fungus that produces underground or partially buried fruiting bodies. In East and Central Texas, Scleroderma texense typically grows in association with oak and pine trees, often in well-drained soils. The fungus has a spherical to ellipsoidal shape, ranging in size from 2-6 cm in diameter, with a thick, leathery peridium that is initially white to pale brown, becoming darker brown to black with age. The gleba is dark brown to purplish-black and has a strong, earthy odor. Scleroderma texense can be found fruiting from summer to fall in the region, often after heavy rainfall.
Tough puffball mushrooms with blackish interior (earthballs, Scleroderma texense) on Iron Bridge Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 8, 2008
Tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2013
Texture of tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2013
Tuff puffball mushrooms (dirty tennis ball fungi, Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2013
Texture of tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 16, 2013
Mature tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 16, 2013
Cracked surface of tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) on roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 16, 2013
Tuff puffball mushroom (Scleroderma texense) in Bee Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 3, 2017
Tuff puffball mushrooms (Scleroderma texense) in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, November 24, 2017
Tuff puffball mushrooms (Scleroderma texense) on a lawn in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, November 24, 2017
False puffball mushroom Scleroderma texense on a utility cutting in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 11, 2018
Tuff puffball mushrooms (Scleroderma texense) and dyeball fungus (Pisolithus arhizus, Pisolithus tinctorius) on a flowerbed with mulch at Spence Street on campus of Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, October 1, 2018
Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma texense(?) on a lawn in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, October 12, 2021
False puffball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a lawn in College Station Cemetery. College Station, Texas, October 25, 2021
Cross section of false puffball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a lawn in College Station Cemetery. College Station, Texas, October 25, 2021
Group of false puffball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a frequently mowed lawn in College Station Cemetery. College Station, Texas, October 25, 2021
False buffball mushrooms Scleroderma texense in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 1, 2021
Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a lawn in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, November 8, 2021
Rough skin of an earthball mushroom Scleroderma texense in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, November 8, 2021
Earthball mushroom Scleroderma texense(?) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 27, 2021
Mushrooms Panus tephroleucus together with Scleroderma texense(?) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 4, 2023
Earthball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a lawn in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 16, 2023
Section of earthball mushrooms Scleroderma texense on a lawn in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 16, 2023The fungus Scleroderma texense was observed in East and Central Texas over a period of 15 years (2008-2023). The majority of sightings were in College Station, particularly in Lick Creek Park and the David E. Schob Nature Preserve. The fungus was also spotted in nearby Bryan and Washington. Observations were made on various substrates, including roadsides, lawns, flowerbeds, and utility cuttings. The mushrooms were often described as "tough puffballs" or "earthballs" with a blackish interior and rough skin. Some observations noted the presence of other fungi, such as dyeball fungus, alongside Scleroderma texense. The frequency and distribution of these sightings suggest that Scleroderma texense is relatively common in the region, particularly in urban and suburban areas with managed landscapes.
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