Stump Puffball - Lycoperdon pyriforme

The fruiting bodies of this puffball measure 1.5 to 4.5 cm in width by 2 to 4.5 cm in height and are often pear-shaped. Typically they are found on rotting wood. When very young they are covered in small white spines that typically fall off before maturity. A small developing pore may be visible at the top, while the base of the mushroom is relatively small and usually has a number of thread-like 'roots'. Colour ranges from nearly white to yellowish brown with the darker shades developing with age.

Found on decaying logs of both deciduous and coniferous wood.

Autumn.

The central pore ruptures at late maturity to allow the wind and rain to disperse the spores.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.