Pear-shaped puffball
Lycoperdon pyriforme
A species of Lycoperdon. Also known as Pear shaped wolf-fart puffball.
This species of mushroom is characterized by its dense growth habit, often blanketing fallen trees and stumps in a soft, brown layer. These pear-shaped puffballs are widespread across the northern hemisphere, thriving on decaying hardwood during the autumn and winter months.
In This Article
Attributes of Pear-shaped puffball
Cap Diameter
2 - 3.5 cm
Height
1.5 - 2.5 cm
Cap
2 - 3.5 cm wide; round; pale tan to yellowish brown; dry, covered with tiny white spines when young and fresh
Stem
Root-like; white
Stem Shapes
Tapering
Stem Surfaces
Smooth
Flesh
Granular; yellowish to olive
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
Brown
Odor
Mild, earthy, not particularly distinctive.
Body Color
BrownYellowBronze
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Gregarious, Clustered
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
Dead Woods
Occurence Habitats
Deciduous Woodland, Coniferous Woodland, Mixed Woodland
Species Status
Very widely distributed and common in North America
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Pear-shaped puffball
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
Agaricaceae
Genus
Lycoperdon
Toxicity and Edibility of Pear-shaped puffball
Is Pear-shaped puffball Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
