ExploreFungi

Pear-shaped Puffball

Lycoperdon

The Pear-shaped Puffball is shaped like a pear! It’s another fun fungus that puffs out spores when it’s ready.

Habitat: In grassy areas and forests

Appearance

The Pear-shaped Puffball is a small, club-to-pear-shaped fungus, often growing in clusters. It typically has a pale off-white to yellowish-brown surface, sometimes with small, easily rubbed-off spines, and a distinctive sterile, stem-like base that is attached to wood.

KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderAgaricalesFamilyLycoperdaceaeGenusLycoperdon
Pear-shaped Puffball
spore_producing trait badgeedible trait badgedecomposer trait badgeforest trait badge
Pear-shaped Puffball

Category

Fungi

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

7

Interesting facts

Its 'skin' changes from white to yellowish-brown with age.

Old puffballs are like tiny smoke bombs when stepped on!

The inside of a young puffball is pure white, like marshmallow!

They often grow in huge, packed clusters on logs!

Special abilities

Ability

Spore Cloud Power

Pear-shaped Puffball can release millions of dusty spores into the air when squished, spreading its future generations widely.

Ability

Wood Recycler

Pear-shaped Puffball has enzymes that help them break down dead wood, returning vital nutrients to the forest ecosystem.

Ability

Group Grower

Pear-shaped Puffball often grows in dense, packed clusters on dead wood, maximizing its use of available nutrients.

Measurements & details

Height
2-7 cm
Edibility
edible
Cap Diameter
1-4 cm
Growth Substrate
wood
Season
Late summer to fall
Spore Color
Olive-brown

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Pear-shaped Puffball?

The easiest way to identify Pear-shaped Puffball is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Pear-shaped Puffball?

2-7 cm

Is Pear-shaped Puffball edible?

edible

How big is Pear-shaped Puffball?

1-4 cm

Where is Pear-shaped Puffball usually found?

In grassy areas and forests

What does Pear-shaped Puffball grow on?

wood

When is Pear-shaped Puffball in season?

Late summer to fall

What color are Pear-shaped Puffball spores?

Olive-brown

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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