Pestle Puffball
Lycoperdon excipuliformis
Also Known As: 
Handkea excipuliformis
Cap Diameter (mm): 
30-120mm
 
Description: 

Resembling an oversized Common Fuffball but disintegrating when mature instead of releasing the spores through a hole in the top of the cap.

Cap: 

The fruitbody ispale buff, darkening with age to brownish, outer surface of small warts or spines soon disappearing to expose the papery, yellowish coloured inner wall.

Distribution: 

Common and widespread from late Summer until Autumn

Habitat: 

Growing singly or in small groups in humus soil in both coniferous and broadleaf woodland and on short grassland.

Additional Notes: 

Macroscopically polymorphic, thus has acquired a long list of synonyms (see Kriesel 1989). (Re: The BC)