Desert Shaggy Mane
Podaxis pistillaris
Identification: Desert Shaggy Mane (Podaxis pistillaris)
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Key Features
- Elongated
- club-shaped fruiting body
- Woody
- tapering central stalk
- Scaly or shaggy white to tan exterior
- Internal spore mass (gleba) turns black with age
- Persistent attachment to sandy substrate
Color:
White to pale tan exterior; dark brown to black interior
Smell:
No distinctive smell
Growth Pattern:
Single to scattered
Environment:
Soil
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Arid desert plains and sandy shrublands
Distribution:
Arid regions of Africa (Namibia, South Africa), Australia, and Southwest North America
Seasonality:
Ephemeral, following seasonal rains
Economic Value
Market Demand:
Low - localized traditional use only
Price Range:
N/A
Commercial Use:
Traditional use as pigment/dye or local folk medicine
Similar Species
Shaggy Mane
Coprinus comatus
Key Differences:
- Grows in temperate lawns/gardens
- Dissolves into black ink (deliquesces)
- Lacks the woody, persistent stalk
Desert Inkcap
Montagnea arenaria
Key Differences:
- Cap expands to reveal gill-like structures
- Smaller overall size
- More fragile structure
Recommended Action
Do not consume. Observe local traditional knowledge but maintain caution with wild specimens.