Feld-Bovist
Bovista graveolens
Feld-Bovist (Bovista graveolens) is a small, spherical puffball fungus that typically measures 2-4 cm in diameter with a white to cream-colored exterior that darkens with age. When mature, it releases dark brown spores through a small opening at the top, and emits a distinctive strong odor that gives it its species name.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Lycoperdaceae
Genus
Bovista
Feld-Bovist belongs to the family Lycoperdaceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Feld-Bovist (Bovista graveolens) is a small, spherical puffball fungus that typically measures 2-4 cm in diameter with a white to cream-colored exterior that darkens with age. When mature, it releases dark brown spores through a small opening at the top, and emits a distinctive strong odor that gives it its species name. This saprophytic fungus plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling by decomposing organic matter in grassland ecosystems.
Bovista graveolens faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its specialized grassland ecosystems. The species requires specific soil conditions and undisturbed grassland habitats that are increasingly rare across its European range. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns further threaten the delicate ecological balance needed for this fungus to complete its reproductive cycle.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Bovista graveolens inhabits nutrient-poor, calcareous grasslands and chalk downs, particularly favoring short-grass prairies with well-drained, alkaline soils. The species is typically found in areas with sparse vegetation where livestock grazing maintains the open grassland structure essential for its reproductive cycle.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Bovista graveolens faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its specialized grassland ecosystems. The species requires specific soil conditions and undisturbed grassland habitats that are increasingly rare across its European range. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns further threaten the delicate ecological balance needed for this fungus to complete its reproductive cycle.
Agricultural intensification and conversion of grasslands
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
Changes in grazing patterns and land management
Climate change and altered precipitation regimes
Soil degradation and chemical contamination
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). Feld-Bovist (Bovista graveolens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/feld-bovist