Sphaerobolus is a genus of fungi in the family Geastraceae. Commonly known as the "shotgun fungus" or "cannonball fungus", species discharge their spores with explosive force. Discharged spore sacs are sticky and have a tendency to strongly adhere to whatever surface they encounter, making them a nuisance to homeowners, pressure washing contractors, landscape mulch producers and insurance companies.
Taxonomy and classification
The generic name is derived from the Greek words sphaer, meaning "sphere", and obolus, meaning "to throw". Sphaerobolus was first described by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli in 1729. Formerly, the genus was placed either in its own family, the Sphaerobolaceae, in the order Sclerodermatales, or, more commonly, in the order Nidulariales. Currently, the genus is placed in the family Geastraceae. Recent phylogenetic analysis suggests that Sphaerobolus should be placed in the gomphoid-phalloid clade along with related genera like Geastrum, Phallus, Pseudocolus, Ramaria, Clavariadelphus, Gomphus and Gautieria. Within the genus, three highly supported clades may be discerned, corresponding to S. stellatus, S. iowensis, and the recently described taxon S. ingoldii.
Description
Fruiting bodies, which grow in groups, are 1-3 mm in diameter, roughlyspherical or ovoid in shape, and white to buff in color. The peridium consists of several layers, including a gelatinous layer. At maturity, the exoperidium splits into several lobes to expose the dark brown, single peridiole. The peridiole is forcibly ejected, leaving an endoperidium. Spores are typically 6-10 x 4-6 μm, elliptical to oblong in shape, thick-walled, and hyaline. Species have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are usually found on dung, decaying wood, or vegetative litter.
Mechanism of spore discharge
The peridium, which consists of six distinct layers, forms two "cups" at maturity. Three layers form the outer cup, two form the inner cup, and one layer dissolves to create the fluid that bathes the gleba. After splitting of the peridal layers to expose the gleba, enzymatic conversion of glycogen to glucose increases the internal osmotic pressure and the turgidity of palisade cells in the inner peridial cup. Analysis of the glebal carbohydrates revealed an increase in glucose, mannitol, and trehalose prior to glebal discharge, which would account for the increase in osmotic pressure. Glebal discharge typically occurs 5-6 hours after the apex has split. In S. stellatus, the gleba may be thrown up to 6 meters horizontally. This species is phototropic, and the nearest source of direct or reflected light will be the target for glebal discharge.
