Stump puffball - Lycoperdon pyriforme

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Edible mushroom - novice Season - summer to winter ​ Common names Stump puffball, pear puffball, pear-shaped puffball

Scientific name meaning: The Greek Lykos, meaning wolf, and perd, meaning to break wind, are the origins of the genus name. The species name pyriforme comes from the Latin pirum, meaning pear, and forma, meaning shape

Habitat and growth

The stump puffball is a saprobic fungus living off dead and decaying wood. It is most often found in tightly packed groups of fruit bodies on stumps or buried wood.

Fruit body

There is no discernible cap on the stump puffball. Instead it is solid and shaped like an inverted pestle or pear. It is creamy white with small pyramidal warts covering its surface that drop off quite early in its growth. There are no gills, pores or teeth. The fruit body can reach 4cm across and 4cm tall.

Flesh, smell, taste and spores

The flesh (gleba) is white, with the consistency of a marshmallow sweet when young. In older specimens the flesh turns yellow, then grey-brown, before releasing its brown spores. The spores are released through a fissure that forms at the top of the fruit body. When young, the flesh smells and tastes mild and mushroomy. The spore colour is olive- to dark- brown.

​Possible lookalikes

Could be confused with some earthballs, which are toxic, but these are cream, purple or black inside. Also, could be easily confused with other puffballs, but all UK species are edible.

Could be mistaken for young poisonous Amanitas, such as the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), pictured. However, an embryonic mushroom would be visible upon slicing from top to bottom.

Use as a food The stump puffball must be pure white inside if it is to be consumed. Any specimens that have any sign of yellowing, or browning, should be discarded as they will cause severe gastric distress.

This mushroom is eaten cooked. The skin is tough so should be removed first. It is best to remove the warts in the field as they get everywhere. It has a slimy consistency and does not have the strongest taste, so it is best added to mushroom soups as a thickener or included in dishes with lots of other mushrooms of different textures ​ Hazards Do not consume if any part of the specimen is showing signs of going to spore – yellowing, greying, greening or browning of any part of the flesh.

This mushroom can grow on roadside grass verges where it can accumulate traffic-related toxins. It is advisable to avoid harvesting from the sides of busy roads

Use in herbal medicine and medicine The stump puffball's spores have been used to relieve chaffing

If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner ​ Other uses None known ​ Importance to other species Provides food for invertebrates

Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!

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