As you walk through the woods, you see what looks like a small, bumpy potato sticking out of the leaves. When you look more closely, you see that it’s not a vegetable at all, but a fungus that looks like a potato. You can find edible wild mushrooms if you know how to identify them, but fungi that look like potatoes are usually poisonous and should be avoided.
The Deceptive Earthball
One of the most common fungal imposters is the earthball mushroom, known scientifically as Scleroderma. With its round, lumpy shape and dull tan color, it’s easy to mistake an earthball for a tasty tuber. However, this is a potentially dangerous doppelganger.
Earthballs belong to a group known as “gasteromycetes” or “stomach fungi.” Unlike mushrooms, they don’t have gills on the underside of their caps. Instead, earthballs contain powdery spores within their inner flesh. Scleroderma species spread their spores by cracking open irregularly once mature.
While not deadly, earthballs can cause severe gastrointestinal issues if ingested. Consuming even a small amount may lead to intense vomiting, making them a mushroom to avoid.
The Tricky Potato Earthball
Scleroderma bovista, also known as the “potato earthball,” looks a lot like a potato. This fungus looks like a bumpy potato covered in dirt that is rising from the ground, which is how it got its name. It has tan skin with brown warty scales that help it look like a tuber.
Inside, the potato earthball’s flesh is marbled white at first before turning dark purple-brown in maturity. Its powdery spores are brown and round, with tiny spines covering their surface. This is one earthball that can fool even experienced foragers due to its uncanny resemblance to an actual potato.
Don’t Be Fooled by the Common Earthball
Another deceiving doppelganger is Scleroderma citrinum, known as the “common earthball.” It has yellowish, scaly skin and tends to fruit in mossy woods and forests. This species is so convincing it has been passed off as truffles in the past, despite its toxicity.
The common earthball’s interior starts off white before transforming into a purplish-black spore mass. When it ruptures, powdery black spores are dispersed into the environment. Consuming any part of this fungus leads to severe gastrointestinal problems, so it’s vital to properly identify it.
Lookalikes Versus Lookalikes
While earthballs pretend to be potatoes, other toxic fungi mimic the appearance of safe, edible species. For example, the “false morel” Gyromitra esculenta looks similar to the sought-after morel mushroom but contains toxins that can be fatal if eaten raw.
There are also poisonous Amanita mushrooms that closely resemble choice edible species. Consuming a death cap mushroom for instance can be lethal due to its amatoxins. Err on the side of caution if an edible mushroom lookalike is discovered.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out
It’s easy to be fooled by fungi that resemble wild edibles. From young puffballs to mature earthballs, potatoes to morels, mimics abound in nature. One small nibble of a toxic lookalike can cause hours of agony.
When it comes to poisonous fakes, the earthballs that look like tubers are some of the most convincing ones out there. Their bumpy, warty brown skin makes them look like potatoes, but eating one would be bad for you.
“When in doubt, throw it out” is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind when looking for fuzz. ” Proper identification is essential to avoid poisoning. Please don’t eat a mushroom that makes you think twice. Foraged food should only be eaten if it can be identified with 100% certainty. With fungi it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Identification Tips for Earthballs:
- Irregularly shaped, not evenly round
- Dull tan, yellowish or brown color
- Covered in warty scales or bumps
- No gills or stem
- Inner flesh marbled or powdery
- Grows in woods and forests
Safe Alternatives:
- Cultivated potatoes from the grocery store
- Wild berries like blackberries or raspberries
- Dandelion greens
- Chickweed
- Wood sorrel
When searching for wild edibles, stick to easily identified species. Be especially cautious with fungi, as poisoning risks abound. Avoid any suspicious “potatoes” discovered outdoors, and forage safely!
Blight: 5 Ways to Control Potato Blight (Late Blight)
FAQ
What is a mushroom that looks like a small potato?
This mushroom is SCLERODERMA BOVISTA, often called the Potato Earthball. It’s widespread in Europe and North America. You don’t eat this potato because it’s poisonous, causing severe problems in the gastrointestinal system.
How to get rid of earthball fungus?
Expert Response. They do resemble earthball fungi, but there is no treatment (including fungicides) that will get rid of them. One way to keep dogs from eating the mushrooms you find is to dig them up and throw them away. However, you can’t get rid of the fungus that makes these mushrooms.
Are common earthballs poisonous?
Common earthball may not be deadly, but it is poisonous and is responsible for lots of mushroom poisonings in the UK each year. It might be because they can be confused with common puffballs, which are edible. In the past, common earthballs were sometimes even passed off as truffles.
What is the poisonous puffball fungus?
While some puffball mushrooms are edible when young and white inside, others, like the common earthball (Scleroderma citrinum), are poisonous and can cause gastrointestinal distress.
Can fungus destroy potatoes?
Here’s how it works. Fungus growing on the potatoes is one of the worst things about growing potatoes in the garden. Whether it be late blight fungus, which was responsible for Irish Potato Famine, or early blight, which can be just as devastating to a potato plant, potato fungus can destroy your potato plants.
What causes potato fungus?
The appearance of potato fungus happens mainly due to infected seed potatoes or planting in infected soil. Most potato fungi not only attack potatoes, but can survive (though may not kill) on other plants in the nightshade family such as tomatoes and peppers.
What does a gleba fungus look like?
They can grow up to 10cm in diametre and have an irregular ovoid like shape. The colour can be dirty yellow to ochre brown with rough scales all over the surface. The difference ends once you cut the fungus in half. In a young plant, the gleba is a solid blackish spore mass that has a slightly marbled look.
Can blight fungus kill potatoes?
Most potato fungi not only attack potatoes, but can survive (though may not kill) on other plants in the nightshade family such as tomatoes and peppers. An excellent way to prevent blight fungus on your potatoes is to treat your seed potatoes with a fungicide before you plant them.
Are there fungi like earthballs?
There are several lookalike Earthballs out there, such as the Scaly Earthball and Leopard Earthball. These have some key differences, such as the surface texture or pattern. But there is quicker way to identify between these similar fungi.
What does an earthball fungus look like?
Flesh: the ‘cap’ is rounded, can be 4–12cm across and 3–6cm tall. The tough skin is dirty-yellow to ochre-brown and covered in coarse, warty scales in irregular shapes. As the fungus matures, it can turn ochre-brown or green. The flesh inside a young earthball is whitish, sometimes with a pink-purple tinge.