Purple-spored puffball
Calvatia cyathiformis
A species of Calvatia.
This distinctive mushroom is easily identifiable. Known fittingly as the purple-spored puffball, it features a sizable fruiting body that can be round or pear-shaped, colored either purple or chocolate-brown, a hue shared by its spores. These purple-spored puffballs inhabit grasslands and fields throughout both North America and Australia.
In This Article
Attributes of Purple-spored puffball
Cap Diameter
8 - 20 cm
Height
8 - 17 cm
Cap
8 - 20 cm wide; ; ball-shaped; tan to pale brown
Flesh
White, purple or dark brown
Spore Print Color
Purple
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
BrownBronze
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Solitary, Scattered, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
On soil
Occurence Habitats
Meadows
Species Status
Widely distributed in North America
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Purple-spored puffball
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
Agaricaceae
Genus
Calvatia
Toxicity and Edibility of Purple-spored puffball
Is Purple-spored puffball Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
