Bovista

Genus of fungi belonging to the class Basidiomycetes. There are about 35 species, all found in temperate regions. They are small puffballs, up to 8 cm/3 in in diameter, and differing from Lycoperdon species mainly in having a mass of sterile, threadlike tubes or fibres among the spores. B. plumbea and B. nigrescens are found on heaths and pastures in Britain. They have no stem, but are held to the ground by a thread; when this is broken by the wind, the puffball is blown around, releasing its spores as it goes.