Puffball/ Stalkball?

[little_auk11]

Hello chaps and chapesses.

Had a lovely walk in Richmond park this afternoon. More of a bird watching outing so i wasn't fully prepared for fungi hunting. Investigated some deadwood/logs etc. for brackets, slime moulds etc. Saw a glimpse of something and removed the leaves and found these boys. Very puffball like but with a distinctive patterned marking on the stripe - same markings on all specimins i saw (this clump and a couple of pairs close by). I know that common puffballs and some others have a stalk but the markings on these were so distinctive - stinkhorn like. Any ideas? Found nothing in my books. They were very near deadwood, surrounded by Oak trees and oak leaf litter.

Many thanks and apologies its not the best pic - wasn't planning on taking photos today - more of a bin thing!

Very many thanks

[little_auk11]

I've just seen another recent post with a very simular stem - Lycoperdon excipuliforme - as chance would have it!?

[Ditiola]

Scale is difficult with photos, but they look to me like they are to small to be Lycoperdon excipuliforme, I think they are more likely to be L. perlatum

[Nick_in_Scotland]

I think these will be skeletons from last year's puffballs. The outside "skin" of the puffball seems to last for months but wrinkles up so I guess that makes identification difficult. Often this time of year, and particularly during spring, these puffball remains are the only fungi I find in the forest.

[little_auk11]

Many thanks both. I agree that they must be remains of last years puffballs. I didn't realise that such patterns become so pronounced - its all good material for the knowledge bank!