Synonyms: Lycoperdon bonordenii, Lycoperdon gemmatum, Lycoperdon hirtum, Lycoperdon lacunosum, Utraria gemmata.
Common names: common puffball, Devil's Snuffbox, Gem-studded Puffball.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Lycoperdon perlatum, popularly known as the common puffball, warted puffball, gem-studded puffball, wolf farts or the devil's snuff-box, is a species of puffball fungus in the family Agaricaceae. A widespread species with a cosmopolitan distribution, it is a medium-sized puffball with a round fruit body tapering to a wide stalk, and dimensions of 1.5 to 6 cm (0.6 to 2.4 in) wide by 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) tall. It is off-white with a top covered in short spiny bumps or "jewels", which are easily rubbed off to leave a netlike pattern on the surface. When mature it becomes brown, and a hole in the top opens to release spores in a burst when the body is compressed by touch or falling raindrops.
Basque: Otsoputz, Bulgarian: Зърнеста пърхутка, Catalan: Pet de llop, Chinese: 網狀馬勃, Corsican: Buffetta, Croatian: Tikvasta puhara, Czech: Pýchavka obecná, Dutch: Parelstuifzwam, Estonian: Harilik murumuna, Finnish: Känsätuhkelo, French: Vesse-de-loup perlée, Galician: Fungato, German: Flaschen-Stäubling, Hungarian: Bimbós pöfeteg, Japanese: ホコリタケ, Kabyle: Tuṛiṭ u meksa, Kurdish: Fisegur, Lithuanian: Karpotasis pumpotaukšlis, Persian: قارچ پفی گلمیخدار, Polish: Purchawka chropowata, Romanian: Cașul ciorii, Russian: Дождевик шиповатый, Serbian: Тикваста пухара, Slovak: Prášnica bradavičnatá, Swedish: Vårtig röksvamp, Ukrainian: Дощовик їстівний, Walloon: Vesse-di-leu pierlêye.
Lycoperdon perlatum, also known as the common puffball, is a small to medium-sized fungus with a rounded or pear-shaped cap, typically 1-4 cm in diameter, covered in short, sharp spines or warts that fall off at maturity, leaving a smooth surface. It has a white or light brown exterior and a pure white interior. In East and Central Texas, Lycoperdon perlatum is commonly found growing on the ground in fields, meadows, and woodland edges, often in association with rich soil and abundant organic matter, typically fruiting from late summer to early fall.
Mature puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on Chinquapin Trail in Huntsville State Park. Texas, November 3, 2013
Spiked puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, September 30, 2018
Spiked puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on Yaupon Loop Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 13, 2019
Close up of spiked puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 13, 2019
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 5, 2020
Spiked puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 5, 2020
Dissected spiked puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 5, 2020
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) suffered from dry wind in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, March 30, 2021
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on a roadside in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, March 30, 2021
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on rotting wood in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 15, 2021
Large number of common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on rotting wood in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 15, 2021
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) together with Chroogomphus vinicolor on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, December 5, 2021
Mature common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, December 5, 2021
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on Lake Somerville Trailway near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, December 30, 2021
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on a path at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, January 9, 2022
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) on buried wood at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, January 9, 2022
Close-up of common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, January 9, 2022
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) near rotting wood on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, April 16, 2023
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) and early ringless honey fungus (Desarmillaria caespitosa, former D. tabescens)(?) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, April 16, 2023
Common puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon perlatum) with cross section on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, April 16, 2023Mature and spiked Lycoperdon perlatum mushrooms were observed in various locations throughout East and Central Texas, including Huntsville State Park, Sam Houston National Forest, Lick Creek Park, and Somerville Lake State Park. They were found growing on trails, roadsides, rotting wood, and buried wood between September and April, with a notable presence in November and December. Some observations noted the mushrooms' condition, such as suffering from dry wind or being dissected to reveal their internal structure. The fungus was also observed coexisting with other species, including Chroogomphus vinicolor and Desarmillaria caespitosa. Overall, Lycoperdon perlatum appears to be a common and widespread species in East and Central Texas, with a preference for certain environments and associations with specific substrates and companion species. Observations were made over several years, from 2013 to 2023, providing a long-term perspective on the fungus's distribution and habits.
Mushroom Observer and Facebook for learning names of local mushrooms.
This web page was generated by a special script.