Pear-shaped Puffball

not listed

not listed

not listed

Pear-shaped Puffball, while not the best known puffball, is the most common one in northeast and midwest North America. It is common in Minnesota. Unlike most puffballs, it grows on and obtains its nutrients from rotting wood (saprobic). It is usually found in dense clusters, sometimes scattered, on rotting logs or stumps. The clusters have been described as sometimes “as large as a loaf of bread.”

The fruiting body is pear-shaped to nearly round, 1″ to 2″ in tall, and ⅝″ to 2″ in diameter. When they first appear they are white and smooth, sometimes with a few scattered white spines at the top. Later they become whitish to pale brown and covered with tiny white spines. As it continues to develop it becomes yellowish to brown, the spines disappear, the surface develops fine cracks forming small patches or granules, and it is rough to the touch. The patches or granules eventually fall off exposing a smooth surface. When mature a pore or tear develops at the top (apex) through which spores are released by raindrops or wind. Eventually they turn brown. The tough outer skin persists into winter and sometimes into the following spring.

The flesh is white and fleshy at first, becoming yellowish and granular as it ages, and brownish dust (spores) when mature. It is edible when young and firm inside but relatively tasteless, becoming bitter with age.

Conspicuous white mycelial threads (rhizomorphs) are usually radiating from the base, sometimes in the surrounding substrate.

Rotting wood

Summer to late fall

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Common and widespread

Order
The family Lycoperdaceae was formerly placed in the order Lycoperdales. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies resulted in a resturcturing of fungal taxonomy. Genera formerly in the families Tulostomataceae, Battarreaceae, Lycoperdaceae, and Mycenastraceae have been moved to Agaricaceae. The move has been universally accepted.

Family
This species was formerly classified as Lycoperdon pyriforme, and that genus was formerly placed in the family Lycoperdaceae. Recent phylogenetic analysis showed that family to be a subgroup within the family Agaricaceae. The move has not been universally accepted. Index Fungorum, MycoBank, Catalog of Life, and NCBI all include Lycoperdon in the family Lycoperdaceae.

Genus
This species was formerly classified as Lycoperdon pyriforme. Based on research published in 2003, it was separated from other Lycoperdon species due to its preferred habitat, mycelial strings, and other factors, and it was reclassified as Morganella pyriformis. In 2008, a more inclusive study placed it back in the genus Lycoperdon in the new subgenus Apioperdon. An analysis published in 2017 showed that L. pyriforme is phylogenetically distinct from Lycoperdon and has sufficient distinct morphological features to be placed outside of that genus. The subgenus was raised to the genus level, and the species was reclassified as Apioperdon pyriforme, the only species in the new genus.

Toasted marshmallows!

Pear-shaped Puffball, Apioperdon pyriforme, At Ahsub Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area

a group of beautiful puff balls

Habitat

Fresh

Mature

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Location: Cass County

Location: St. Cloud, MN (Benton County)

Location: Hennepin County

Location: Martin County, Fairmont, MN

Location: Ahsub Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Location: Cass County

Location: Cass County

Location: Cass County

Location: Detroit Lakes, MN

a group of beautiful puff balls

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Location: North Branch, MN