Endoptychum agaricoides

(Also known as Secotium agaricoides; new name: Chlorophyllum agaricoides)

Puffball Agaric

CAP OVAL, LARGE, TAN, NOT OPENING

Cap:  2-10 cm wide, 2-12 cm tall; pear-shaped to oval to roundish, base wider than apex; fibrillose, sometimes becoming scaly with age; white when young to tan in age; margin joined to stalk

SPORE MASS DISTORTED, NOT EXPOSED, BROWN

Spore mass:  crowded distorted plates and chambers; white becoming brown, sometimes powdery in age

STALK MOSTLY INTERNAL

Stalk:  mostly internal, sometimes a short stalk exposed below cap; extends to the top of the cap

SPORE PRINT BLACKISH BROWN

Spores 6-9 x 5-7 µm, elliptical, smooth, thick walled, apical porelight brown

IN LAWNS AND GARDENS

EDIBLE WHEN YOUNG

Lookalikes:

Unexpanded species of Agaricus or Lepiota – they open up and this one does not

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW....

 This mushroom resembles a gilled mushroom, but never opens up, like a puffball. It has been shown by DNA testing to be related to the genus Agaricus, which would put it in the order Agaricalels, family Agaricaceae, under the new name Chlorophyllum agaricoides.

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