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WildNet - Amy Lewis

Common puffball

Scientific name: Lycoperdon perlatum
This common fungus puffs out clouds of spores when it's mature.

Species information

Statistics

Height: 3-9 cm
Width: 2-6 cm

Conservation status

Common

When to see

July to November

About

The common puffball grows on the ground in woodlands and grasslands, often occurring in small clusters. When a fruiting body is mature, a hole opens at the top. When the puffball is bumped by a passing animal or even hit by raindrops, a cloud of spores is puffed out of the hole. The spores will drift away on the wind and help the fungus spread.

How to identify

The fruiting bodies of the common puffball are pear or club-shaped, with an obvious stem. They're whitish at first, becoming browner with age. The surface is covered with short, bobbly warts. These break off as the puffball ages, leaving little scars on the surface.

Distribution

Widespread

Did you know?

The name Lycoperdon translates as wolf's flatulence.