Lycoperdon perlatum
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.
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