Lycoperdon perlatum Pers.: Pers.
Synops. Meth. Fung.: 145. 1801.

Common Name: puffball

• Sporocarp

  Fruit body 2-9 cm tall, 2-4 cm broad, subglobose to pyriforme to elongated pyriforme, at maturity with an apical pore for spore dispersal; ground color white to pallid to pale brown; surface composed of conical spines, 1-2 mm tall, surrounded by a persistent circular row of warts; spines white to pallid to pale brown, leaving scars as they fall off.

• Sterile Base

  Base well developed, forming a pseudostipe; spines and warts absent or much less prominent.

• Gleba

  Gleba white, firm; becoming soft and yellow, then brown to dark brown and powdery as spores mature.

• Spores

  Spores 3-4.5 µm, globose, verrucose. Spores in deposit yellow-brown to olive-brown to dark brown.

• Habitat

  Solitary, scattered, gregarious, to clustered on ground; widespread fall and winter.

• Edibility

  Edible, but bland. Should be eaten only when young and firm with the gleba still pure white.

• Comments

  Lycoperdon perlatum, our most common puffball, is easily identified by its cream to light tan color cap with an apical pore, conical spines which fall off in age leaving scars, and well developed sterile base.

• References

  Bates, S.T. (2004). Arizona members of the Geastraceae and Lycoperdaceae (Basidiomycota, Fungi). Masters Thesis. Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ. 445 p.
  Calonge, F.D. (1998). Flora Mycologica Iberica. Vol. 3. Gasteromycetes, I. Lycoperdales, Nidulariales, Phallales, Sclerodermatales, Tulostomatales. J. Cramer: Berlin, Germany. 271 p.
  Kreisel, H. (1973). Die Lycoperdaceae der DDR. J. Cramer: Lehre. 201 p.
  Pegler, D.N., Læssøe, T. & Spooner, B.M. (1995). British Puffballs, Earthstars, and Stinkhorns. Royal Botanic Gardens: Kew, England. 255 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1951). Puffballs and Their Allies in Michigan. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MI. 131 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  Main Photo
  • Michael Wood: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Terry Goyan: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP) — closeup of young sporocarp with conical spines
  • Robert Mackler: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP) — older sporocarps
  • Fred Stevens: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP) — capillitium
  • Boleslaw Kuznik — Hunting for Mushrooms: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Elias Fries' fungus plates: Lycoperdon perlatum (I) [Lycoperdon gemmatum]
  • Pilzgalerie.de: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Svampbok: Lycoperdon perlatum (D & CP)
  • Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Kinok-ya: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Lycoperdon perlatum (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 693 (D & P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 216 (CP)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (v. 2): sp. 518 (D, I, & CP)
  • Fischer & Bessette: p. 132 (D), p. 133 (CP)
  • Jordan: p. 357 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 825 (D), plate 652, 676 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 194 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp. 365 (D & CP)
  • Pegler, et al.: p.152 (D), fig. 117 (CP), fig. 118 (I)
  • Phillips: p. 282 (D), p. 283 (CP)
  • Smith: sp. 197 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 271 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)