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Dead man's foot

Pisolithus arhizus

A species of Pisolithus, Also known as Peaball, Dye-maker's false puffball, Church cemetery fungus

Dead man's foot (Pisolithus arhizus) actually bears a number of colorful names stemming from its unusual appearance, such as the horse dung fungus (Australia). It can be distilled into a viscous black gel, which is then used as a natural dye for clothing. It is considered to be inedible.

Odor:

Mild earthy smell, not particularly distinctive.

General Info About Dead man's foot

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Attributes of Dead man's foot

Height

5 - 30 cm

Cap

Pale ocher-brown, blackish brown; surface smooth

Flesh

Yellowish to brownish

Spore Print Color

Brown to cinnamon brown

Odor

Mild earthy smell, not particularly distinctive.

Body Color

Brown

Yellow

Flesh Bruises

The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.

Growth Form

Solitary, Scattered, Gregarious

Nutrient Gathering

Mycorrhizal

Substrate

On soil

You can find Dead man's foot by these plants:

Italian stone pine

Occurence Habitats

Coniferous Woodland, Mixed Woodland, Disturbed Lands

Species Status

Widespread

Endangered Species

How to Identify Dead man's foot

Fruiting Body Flesh Habit & Habitat

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Habitat of Dead man's foot

The dead man's foot is primarily associated with forests but it can appear in grassy areas and in any type of disturbed ground such as roadsides or trails. It prefers gravel and sandy or impoverished soils.

Distribution Area of Dead man's foot

North America,Europe,North and East Africa,northern Asia

Scientific Classification of Dead man's foot

Phylum

Club fungi

Class

Mushroom-forming fungi

Order

Boletes and allies

Family

Hard-skinned puffballs

Genus

Pisolithus

Similar Species to Dead man's foot

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Tips for Finding Dead man's foot

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What are the Ideal Soil Conditions for Dead man's foot

Prefers impoverished, sandy, or gravelly soils.

What are Some Tips for Finding Dead man's foot

Look around coniferous and hardwood trees such as pines and oaks where these species might form a symbiotic relationship.
Search in areas with disturbed soil, such as the edges of paths and roads or recently cleared or compacted territories.
Inspect sandy, gravelly, or otherwise poor-quality soil where the dead man's foot may have less competition from other fungi.
Focus on areas that are open or with sparse grass coverage, as dead man's foot may be more visible and frequent there.
Examine ditches and low-lying areas where water may accumulate, potentially supporting dead man's foot growth.