Bovista graveolens
Bovista graveolens Schwalb
Lycoperdaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-body round, approx. 3 cm high and 4.5 cm wide, wrinkled towards the base, resupinate. Exoperidium thin, at first white, then grey or yellowish, falling off in particles. Endoperidium smooth, thin, grey, ruptured at the apex with a wide irregular aperture. Gleba yellow brownish when immature then olive or chestnut brown, without sterile base. Spores globose, 5–6 µm in diameter, smooth. VIII–XI.
Habitats and populations. On clay soil in deciduous and coniferous forests.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Balkan Range, Sredna Gora Mts (Western – Lozenska Mt), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Mougla village).
General distribution. Europe, the Caucasus.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by stock breeding, wood plantations, logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Hinkova, Fakirova 1970; Hinkova et al. 1979; Chalukov 1984; Denchev et al. 2006; Denchev & Assyov 2010.
Authors: Roumyana D. Petrova & Cvetomir M. Denchev
