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Puffballs Gail Ruhl, Senior Plant Disease Diagnostician, Purdue University Puffballs are a type of mushroom. Spores may be dispersed from the opening at the top of the puffball, such as seen here in this Lycoperdon sp. (Figure 4) When young, puffballs are usually white. Fungal ‘root-like’ mycelial threads (Figure 5) 'attach' puffballs to the ground. The interior of the puffball is initially solid white, gradually turning yellow, then brown as the mushroom matures. Finally, the interior changes to a mass of dark, olive-green to brown powdery spores. Puffballs can be found growing on the ground or on logs, or stumps in wooded areas in late summer or fall. Some puffballs are small, measuring 1 to 3 inches in diameter while others, such as the giant puffball (Calvatia spp.), measure up to 20 inches in diameter or more and look like over-inflated volleyballs dotting the landscape (Figures 1,2 and 3). Photo credits The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Any person using products listed assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current direction of the manufacturer. Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.
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Click image to enlarge
Figure 1. Relative size of giant puffballs (placed on lawn) in comparison to a tennis ball
Figure 2. Giant puffball impeded in growth by
euonymus.
Figure 3. Giant puffballs in wooded area in Indianapolis
Figure 4. Mature Lycoperdon sp.
Figure 5. Puffballs with mycelial 'threads' that 'attach' them to the soil surface |
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Site last updated:
2 June, 2008