(49 votes, average: 3.47 out of 5)
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Common Puffball
Edible 
Autumn 
Summer 
A really common mushroom that doesn’t stand out on its own flavour wise, but can be used in dishes with other mushrooms.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Common Puffball (EN), Devils Snuffbox, Wolf Farts, Coden Fwg Gyffredin (CY), Purchawka Chropowata (PL), Bimbós Pöfeteg (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Lycoperdon perlatum |
| Season Start | Jul |
| Season End | Nov |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 8 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 5 |
Fruiting Body
Starting spherical becoming slightly flattened or club-shaped. White turning cream to brown with small pyramid shaped warts, which when rubbed off leave a net-like pattern. Darker umbo-like top which opens to release the spores.
Stem
Has a white stem-like growth under the main fruiting body which is tapered or club-like and covered in small pyramid-like warts.
Flesh
White becoming brown and powdery as the spores form.
Habitat
Mixed woodland, pasture, commons and heaths. Can grow individually but usually in groups with the chance of finding more nearby.
Possible Confusion
Can be confused with very young Amanitas, pictured are Death Cap ‘eggs’, so the mushrooms should be sliced vertically, the stem and cap of the Amanita will be obvious within an Amanita egg, a puffball should be pure white and spongy inside.
Some of the Scleroderma species, but the tough skin and flesh and dark interior of the Earthballs should help avoid confusion.
The Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), starts as a Puffball like ‘egg’ but has jelly and a small mushroom inside.
Other Puffballs but as long as they are white and spongy throughout they will not be harmful.
Spore Print
Olive/brown. Globose with fine warts.
Taste / Smell
Mild, can be a bit ‘spongy’ in texture. Must be eaten while the flesh is still white throughout.
Frequency
Very common.
Other Facts
There are various different Lycoperdons which look similar and are all edible as long as they are white on the inside and out, but care should be taken to save possible confusion with Scleroderma species.
Like the giant puffball the spores can be used as a stiptic so staunch blood flow or ‘puffed’ onto burns to help with the healing.
However, if the spores are inhaled they can cause the lung disease Lycoperdonosis, so care should be taken when handling mature specimens.
4 comments for Common Puffball
I’ve just come across about a dozen little puffball mushrooms under the apple tree in my garden. If I leave them will I get lots more next year?
It depends on the weather next year. If you were to pick some of what is there it shouldn’t affect next years crop.
thank you I wish I knew how to post a picture so I can get some more information on the ones I got here
You can send photos to [email protected] Please include photos of caps, underside and stem and where they are growing.