Desert Shaggymane

Podaxis pistillaris

"Podaxis pistillaris" is a very distinctive relative of the puffballs. It grows to 15 cm high and has a hard, woody stem. The large cap, which protects the blackish spore-bearing tissue, splits, and usually falls away at maturity, allowing the spores to be dispersed by wind.
Desert Shaggy Mane mushroom, Podaxis pistillaris Growing in a desert landscape area Fall,Geotagged,Podaxis pistillaris,United States

Naming

Older synonyms for this species include "Lycoperdon pistillare" L. and "Scleroderma pistillare" Pers.
Desert Mushroom Very cool looking mushroom that grows in the Arizona Desert. Use - In Australia, it was used by many desert tribes to darken the white hair in old men's whiskers and for body painting. Podaxis pistillaris

Habitat

Large numbers may appear after soaking rains. It thrives in deserts and semi-deserts of Australia and other countries. In the Hawaiian Islands, it is frequently encountered along roadsides and in disturbed areas on the dry sides of the islands, especially in the Kona area of Hawaii and the Kihei area of Maui.
Desert Mushroom -> Desert Shaggymane Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris Desert Shaggymane,Fall,Geotagged,Oman,Podaxis pistillaris

Uses

In Australia, it was used by many desert tribes to darken the white hair in old men's whiskers and for body painting. The fungus was presumably used by many desert Aborigines due to its distribution around drier areas of Australia. There are reports of its also being used as a fly repellent. Apart from the more common, ground-inhabiting Podaxis pistillaris, there is one other Podaxis species in Australia - Podaxis beringamensis, found on termite mounds and presumably both species were used.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionBasidiomycota
ClassAgaricomycetes
OrderAgaricales
FamilyAgaricaceae
GenusPodaxis
SpeciesP. pistillaris
Photographed in
Oman
United States of America