Pear-shaped Puffball
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
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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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
depends on
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Breaks down dead red maple wood, returning nutrients to the soil.
depends on
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Grows on and decomposes fallen paper birch logs and branches.
eaten by
Fungus Gnat
Mycetophila fungorum
Fungus gnat larvae tunnel through and consume its flesh.
Traits
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
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 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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Recent Snaps
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