Pestle Puffball - Lycoperdon excipuliforme

The upper, globe-like section of this puffball is white at first and turns ochre as it ages, is initially covered in soft, pointed warts; these fall off to leave a smooth, matt surface. In maturity it may attain dimensions of 12 cm broad by 20 cm) tall. The underside of the puffball is attached to the ground by a root-like assemblage.

Short grassland and woodland.

Late summer and autumn.

The stipe expands once the head has ruptured and released the spores. It then remains intact throughout the winter and into the following summer. It is parallel or slightly tapering in at the base; spongy; surface soon becoming wrinkled; initially white with pointed warts, but later turning ochre and becoming smooth and leathery.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.