Lycoperdon pyriforme

Also known as: Morganella pyriformis

Pear-Shaped Puffball

Order Agaricales, Family  Lycoperdaceae

FRUITING BODY INVERTED PEAR-SHAPED, NARROWING AT BASE, SURFACE WITH TINY SPINES, THEN SMOOTH

2-5 cm high; 1.5-5 cm wide; white, turning yellow-brown; inverter pear-shaped or spherical, narrowing to form a stem-like base. Surface with tiny spines when fresh and young; spines disappear when mature.

Spore mass inside mushroom firm, white, then yellow and finally powdery olive brown

Spores escape (puff) through pore at top

ON WOOD, MULCH, BURIED ROOTS, OFTEN CLUSTERED

EDIBLE

Lookalikes:

L. perlatum -- spines on young specimens

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Look for the pear-shaped puffball on decaying wood or chips, often in garden mulch.  It's edible if pure white inside.

This shroom is worth tasting if you find enough in the edible stage.

 

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