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Post details: What a pair of whoppers!

What a pair of whoppers!

As Naturenet photographer, I am always on the lookout for interesting wildlife for the Virtual Ranger to include in this blog. And, once again a walk in the countryside has proffered Something Unusual.

Fungus, eh? Could it be from outer space, with its crazy colours, interesting forms and (occasional) edibility? These huge globes were perched on one of the highest and most unforgiving points of the Isle of Wight - Tennyson Down - with its harsh westerly winds, lack of shelter and grazing cattle. However, in the space of one small stroll I saw a mouse, a lizard and these whoppers, identified as Calvatia utriformis by ecologist Dr Colin Pope.

Dr Pope says "These are not, I think, giant puffballs but a related species, Calvatia utriformis, which is less frequently recorded. It is only edible when young".

Calvatia utriformis with water bottle for scale (c)Cat James

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Posted on 11th July 2007 at 11 43 am
by HM the Cat
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Categories: Isle of Wight, Naughty vegetables

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The thoughts and writings of The Virtual Ranger, since 1995 the host and mascot of Naturenet, the UK's most popular independent environmental website; along with interjections from his real-life alter ego, Matthew Chatfield, and others. Featuring not only Naturenet and countryside related stuff, but, as on Naturenet, plenty of other material - more or less at random - that takes The Ranger's fancy. But you can be confident that soon enough he'll be rather sarcastic.

Next post: Braving the rare carnivores