Corkstar Puffball
Mycenastrum corium
Mycenastrum is a fungal genus in the family Agaricaceae. The genus is monotypic, containing one widely distributed species, Mycenastrum corium, known by various common names: the giant pasture puffball, leathery puffball, or tough puffball.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenastrum
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Agaricaceae
Genus
Mycenastrum
Corkstar Puffball belongs to the family Agaricaceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Mycenastrum is a fungal genus in the family Agaricaceae. The genus is monotypic, containing one widely distributed species, Mycenastrum corium, known by various common names: the giant pasture puffball, leathery puffball, or tough puffball.
The Corkstar Puffball faces significant decline due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns are disrupting the specific soil and moisture conditions this fungus requires for fruiting and spore dispersal.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
The puffball is widely distributed, and has been recorded in Africa (Zimbabwe), Asia (China, India, Iran, Mongolia, and Yemen), South America (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay), North America, Australia, and New Zealand. In Europe it is found in southern Scandinavia and is widespread to the south of the continent. Although it was reported in Scotland in 2010 (its first appearance on the British...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Corkstar Puffball faces significant decline due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns are disrupting the specific soil and moisture conditions this fungus requires for fruiting and spore dispersal.
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Urban and suburban development
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Soil disturbance and degradation
Collection pressure for mycological specimens
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Corkstar Puffball (Mycenastrum corium). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/corkstar-puffball