Common puffball - Lycoperdon perlatum

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Edible mushroom - novice Season - summer to autumn ​ Common names Jewelled puffball, warted puffball, no-eyes, blindman's bellows, devil's snuffbox, gem-studded 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 perlatum comes from the Latin Perula, meaning a rounded head like a pearl

Habitat

The common puffball is a saprobic fungus living off dead and decaying wood but can be found nearby its food source as well as directly on it. It can be found as single fruit bodies, and in large numbers. The fruit bodies can sometimes be branched.

Fruit body

There is no discernible cap on the common puffball. Instead it is solid with a spherical head and stem-like base. It is white with sharp warts covering its surface. There are no gills. The fruit body can reach 6cm across and 10cm tall.

Pores, flesh and spores

The flesh (gleba) is white, with the consistency of a marshmallow sweet when young. In older specimens the flesh turns yellow, then green-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.

​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 common 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 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 common puffball has been used as an antimicrobial, for which current studies are currently being undertaken

If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner ​ Other uses None known at time of writing ​ 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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