Puffball Mushroom Identification

Puffball mushroom identification is not difficult, if you have a basic know how about the features of this fungi. Read on for more information about the subject.

Puffball mushrooms are one of the popular edible fungi that are found to grow on soil, dead wood, etc. As the name suggests, these mushrooms are roughly round to pear-shaped and can be found in different sizes. Most of the true puffball mushrooms are safe for consumption. However, you must have a basic understanding about puffball mushroom identification, as there are chances that you may get confused with other similar-looking species. So, the following puffball mushroom information may help you in identifying these edible mushrooms.

Puffball Mushroom Facts

As mentioned above, there are many different types of puffball mushrooms, which come under the division Basidiomycota. Mushrooms that belong to the genera Calvatia, Calbovista and Lycoperdon are categorized as puffballs. Even though, Lycoperdon is considered as the true puffball genus, most of the mushrooms belonging to the genera Calvatia and Calbovista are also found to be edible. One of the characteristic features of puffball mushrooms is that the spore-producing bodies in these mushrooms are inside their spherical body, which opens only for releasing the spores. Once they get mature, even a small pressure (from a raindrop falling on it) may open the mushroom and release the spores.

Puffball mushrooms are round or pear-shaped and their color ranges from pure white to off white, tan and gray. While, most of the edible puffballs lack stalks, there are some with small stalks. However, those with woody and tough stalks and body are not edible. Most of them have thin skin, but, some may have tiny spikes or warts on the skin. There are some varieties with skin having designs as in pineapple. The inner sides of a puffball mushroom is pure white in color, but will get transformed to yellow and then brown/black, as they age. Once they get mature, the inner area gets filled with dark powdery spores that are released into the atmosphere.

Different types of puffball mushrooms vary in size and the largest among them is the giant puffball mushroom or Calvatia gigantea. These mushrooms may grow to a width of around 70 to 150 centimeters, with a maximum weight of 20 kilograms. In general, puffball mushrooms are found to grow in late summer and fall and they commonly grow in lawn, barren areas, open woods, dead wood, pastures, soil, etc. Now that you know more about puffball mushroom, let us take a look at some important points about puffball mushroom identification.

How to Identify a Puffball Mushroom

As far as mushrooms are concerned, identifying the safe (edible) ones are very important, so as to avoid side effects, after consumption. The same applies to puffball mushrooms too. There are some basic features that can help you in puffball mushroom identification. The following are some distinguishing features of puffballs that can help you in identifying them.

• The most important among them is the pure white flesh, without any shades of yellow, purple,brown, etc. The flesh must be solid, dense and firm. It has been observed that with age, the flesh of these mushrooms gets less denser.
• Another important factor regarding puffball mushroom identification is that when cut in half, the inner flesh must have a uniform consistency. There should not be any signs of a developing mushroom like gill, cap, stalk, etc.
• Sometimes, young amanita mushrooms (poisonous) may look like puffballs, but, you can identify them by cutting in half, so that the developing structures (seen in amanita) can be viewed. So, puffball mushrooms do not usually have long stalks, gills, cap, etc.
• Pigskin poison puffball (Scleroderma citrinum) is a type of puffball mushroom that is found to cause gastrointestinal problems. This puffball can be identified with a dark-colored thick skin with designs. Even their flesh may have a purplish tinge, while young.
• Even though puffball mushrooms are edible, you must harvest and use these mushrooms, when they are young. The flesh has to be white and firm with a uniform consistency. If the flesh is yellowish or if there are signs of developing spores, then, you must not use it for consumption.

In short, puffball mushroom identification is not a difficult task. It will be better to ask the opinion of an expert, if you find some of these mushrooms in your place. Make sure to cut open the mushroom in half, so that you can check properly. Once you make sure that it is edible puffball mushroom, you can use it after removing the skin, which can sometimes cause intestinal irritation in some people. You can fry, grill, saute or sear puffball mushroom, which can also go well with beef, chicken, and eggs.