(Apioperdon pyriforme)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
|
|
Description |
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. |
Similar Species |
Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) is similar in appearance, but it grows on the ground, not on wood. |
Habitat and Hosts |
Rotting wood |
Ecology |
Season |
Summer to late fall |
Distribution |
||
Sources |
||
10/8/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
||
Common and widespread |
Taxonomy |
|
Kingdom |
Fungi (fungi) |
Subkingdom |
Dikarya |
Phylum |
Basidiomycota (club fungi) |
Subphylum |
Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms) |
Class |
Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies) |
Subclass |
Agaricomycetidae |
Order |
|
Suborder |
Suborder Agaricineae |
Family |
Lycoperdaceae (puffballs) |
Genus |
Apioperdon |
Order Family Genus |
|
Subordinate Taxa |
|
|
|
Synonyms |
|
Lycoperdon pyriforme Morganella pyriformis |
|
Common Names |
|
Pear-shaped Puffball Stump Puffball |
Glossary
Mycelium
The vegetative part of a fungus; consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae, through which a fungus absorbs nutrients from its environment; and excluding the fruiting, reproductive structure.
Saprobic
A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.
Visitor Photos |
||
Share your photo of this fungus. |
||
This button not working for you? |
Luciearl |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
Greg Watson |
![]() |
Pear-shaped Puffballs, Apioperdon pyriforme |
Paul |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
Toasted marshmallows! |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
Honey Fae (Farah) |
![]() |
Martin Schrattenholzer |
![]() |
Pear-shaped Puffball, Apioperdon pyriforme, At Ahsub Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area |
Kirk Nelson |
||
![]() |
![]() |
Cynthia Schroeder |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Habitat |
Habitat | |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Habitat |
Fresh | |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Fresh |
Fresh | |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Mature |
Mature | |
![]() |
||
Mature |
Slideshows |
Apioperdon pyriforme - fungi kingdom |
About
Published on Jan 24, 2015 Apioperdon pyriforme - fungi kingdom |
Visitor Videos |
||
Share your video of this fungus. |
||
This button not working for you? |
|
Other Videos |
Puffball Mushroom (Apioperdon pyriforme) on Log |
About
Uploaded on Sep 20, 2010 Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (19 September 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6358.asp |
Pear shaped Puffball and more mushrooms |
About
Published on Sep 26, 2015 Pear shaped Puffball and more mushrooms |
Wolf-fart puffballs |
About
Published on Oct 16, 2014 Autumn in Jefferson County, Washington means mass fruitings of all kinds of mushrooms. From Port Townsend, Washington, here's a big bunch of pear-shaped puffballs, AKA Apioperdon pyriforme...AKA wolf-fart puffball, because "Lycoperdon" literally means "wolf farts"!!! |
Visitor Sightings |
||
Report a sighting of this fungus. |
||
This button not working for you? |
Luciearl 12/29/2024 |
Location: Fairview Twp. |
Greg Watson 9/24/2024 |
Location: Norwegian Ridge Birding and Nature Trails Pear-shaped Puffballs, Apioperdon pyriforme |
![]() |
Luciearl 10/9/2023 |
Location: Cass County |
Paul 8/4/2023 |
Location: St. Cloud, MN (Benton County) |
Honey Fae (Farah) 7/24/2022 |
Location: Hennepin County |
Apricity Apricity |
Location: Martin County, Fairmont, MN |
Martin Schrattenholzer 9/14/2020 |
Location: Ahsub Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness |
Luciearl 4/3/2020 |
Location: Cass County |
Kirk Nelson 9/30/2018 |
Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park |
Cynthia Schroeder 9/5/2018 |
Location: North Branch, MN |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Created: 3/18/2019 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |