Strumpshaw Fen Reticularia lycoperdon – March 2024
31 March 2024
At the Zen Zone in early March we spotted a Reticularia lycoperdon aethalium (false puffball) in it’s early mucilaginous stage with the distinctive cauliflower-like surface.
![](https://traversingthehinterland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Enteridium_lycoperdon_Zen_Zone_10_03_24-600x452.webp)
The Zen Zone at Strumpshaw Fen – 10th March 2023
The surface quickly smooths over to form a sheeny peridium under which the spores begin to develop. A week later the peridium was completely gone exposing the pale mouse-grey spore mass.
![](https://traversingthehinterland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Enteridium_lycoperdon_Zen_Zone_17_03_24-600x452.webp)
Strumpshaw Fen – 17th March 2023
And the following week a tangle of capillitium.
![](https://traversingthehinterland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Enteridium_lycoperdon_Zen_Zone_24_03_24-600x452.webp)
Strumpshaw Fen – 24th March 2023
Edit 27th May 2024 – Changed name from Enteridium lycoperdon to Reticularia lycoperdon which is the current accepted name.