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No sterile base. This is apparent in the photograph. The mature specimen can be separated from the much larger C. craniformis thus, which does have a conspicuous sterile base. C. rubroflava is a much smaller puffball.
In 2005, C. rubroflava was an extremely abundant species in the bottomland woods beneath cottonwood and willows near the confluence of the two mighty rivers, Missouri and Mississippi. Specimens were everywhere on the forest floor and along the pathway. In 2007, a very dry year, I could find only two specimens there.
The round, smooth spores resemble C. craniformis. A few of them even appear to have the short spike-like "stump", but this feature is much less abundant.
The spores are a rich yellow-golden color. In 2005, it was easy to see that this puffball stains yellowish wherever touched. The two specimens I found in 2007 were to mature and dried out to exhibit that field mark.
A.k.a. Orange-staining puffball. |
