Skip to main content
Scleroderma

Scleroderma

9.9
A poisonous fungus with a hard outer skin that looks like a truffle
  • noun
  • /ˌsklɛrəˈdɜrmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Scleroderma
  • The poisonous fungus Scleroderma is often mistaken for edible truffles by amateur foragers.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered several new species within the Scleroderma genus in the forest soil.

  • Because Scleroderma has a hard outer skin, it can be difficult to cut open.

  • I found a Scleroderma in the forest yesterday.

  • Many people are unaware of Scleroderma and its dangers.

  • The poisonous fungus Scleroderma is often mistaken for edible truffles by amateur foragers.

  • Researchers discovered several new species within the Scleroderma genus in the forest soil.

  • Because Scleroderma has a hard outer skin, it can be difficult to cut open.

Synonyms

hard-skinned puffball
vsScleroderma
  • Specialized
9.9

A small mushroom with a hard outer skin that grows underground like a truffle

is the larger poisonous genus including such species rather than one single type
false truffle
vsScleroderma
9.6

An underground fungus that looks like a real truffle but is a different kind

is the poisonous genus term used for those truffle lookalikes

Compounds

Scleroderma aurantium
  • Specialized
9.9

A round fungus with a hard brownish yellow skin covered in small warts and a dark purple inside

Scleroderma bovista
  • Specialized
9.9

A round fungus like a puffball with a firm dry skin that cracks and turns reddish brown as it matures

Scleroderma citrinum
  • Specialized
9.9

A round brownish-yellow fungus covered in small bumps with a dark purple inside that is not edible

Scleroderma flavidium
  • Specialized
9.9

A round fungus with a smooth top that grows in sand and splits into ray-like segments

Surface Forms

Scleroderma singular
Sclerodermas plural

Morphology

Scleroderma = sclero + derma

The word is formed from Greek combining forms 'sclero-' (hard) + 'derma' (skin) which are not standalone English words for a B1 learner, and the taxonomic genus name meaning is not transparently derivable from English components.

Etymology

Scleroderma comes from Greek parts skleros 'hard' and derma 'skin', so it literally means 'hard skin'. That's why this name fits the poisonous fungi: they have a tough outer skin like a small, hard truffle.