Scleroderma Collection

Earth balls, Scleroderma verrucosum. Lycoperdon verrucosum, Licoperdo verrucoso, Vescia lupaja verrucosa. Handcoloured copperplate stipple engraving from Antoine Laurent de Jussieus Dizionario delle

Water horsetail, Equisetum fluviatile
Water horsetail or swamp horsetail, Equisetum fluviatile, Equiseto dei fiumi, Coda di cavallo. Handcoloured copperplate stipple engraving from Antoine Laurent de Jussieus Dizionario delle Scienze

Puffball and earthstar mushrooms
Spiny puffball, Lycoperdon echinatum, earthball, Scleroderma citrinum (Scleroderma vulgare), fringed earthstar, Geaster fimbriatus and Tulostoma fimbriatum (Tulostoma granulosum)

Earthball, Scleroderma vulgare var verrucosum
Earthball, Scleroderma vulgare var. verrucosum, and earthstar, Geaster fornicatus.. Chromolithograph from Leon Dufours Atlas des Champignons Comestibles et Veneneux (1891)

Spiny puffball, Lycoperdon echinatum, and earthball, Scleroderma verrucosum, edible.. Chromolithograph by C. Krause from Fritz Leubas Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms, Neuchatel, Switzerland, 1890

Picture No. 10893025
Earthball - Autumn (Scleroderma citrinum) Date:

Picture No. 10893024
Earthball - Autumn (Scleroderma citrinum) Date:

Picture No. 10893026
Earthball - Autumn (Scleroderma citrinum) Date:

Shiny toughened skin on hands due to scleroderma
Scleroderma. View of shiny toughened skin on hands suffering from scleroderma (systemic sclerosis). This is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks its own cells

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Discover the intriguing connection between Earth's enigmatic 'Earth balls' and the human condition in this intriguing exploration of Scleroderma. In the natural world, Earth balls like Scleroderma verrucosum and Scleroderma vulgare var. Verrucosum, resemble mysterious, spore-filled orbs found in forests. Meanwhile, Scleroderma, a complex and often misunderstood autoimmune disease, causes the skin to become shiny and toughened, akin to the protective coating on these Earth treasures. Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) and puffball and earthstar mushrooms (Lycoperdon spp.) share a similar terrestrial habitat, adding another layer to this intriguing comparison. Picture No. 10893024 showcases a close-up view of an Earthball, while Picture No. 10893025 highlights the spiny texture of a Spiny puffball (Lycoperdon echinatum). Picture No. 10893026 reveals the striking contrast between the delicate, moist moss and the rough, scleroderma-affected skin. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of nature, we find that the Earth's wonders often hold clues to the most profound aspects of the human experience.