Lycoperdon molle

19 October 2008 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin

Species

Lycoperdon molle

Fruiting Body

Sub-spherical with a distinct broad stem, surface sparsely decorated with small spines which fall away with age, pale brown, inside of head ripening into a powdery spore mass which is released through an apical opening in the paper thin outer skin, to about 4 cm across

Flesh

White and spongey in the stem, white then olive-brown in the head

Smell

Indistinct

Taste

Indistinct

Season

Autumn

Distribution

Frequent

Habitat

In deciduous and coniferous woods

Microscopic Features

Spores spherical, coarsely warty (4-5) µm excluding warts, sterigma fragments present in spore mass and sometimes attached to spores

Edibility

Edible when white throughout

Notes

Molle means 'soft'. Take care not to confuse with Lycoperdon umbrinum, which has yellow brown gleba (spore mass), and finely warted spores, without sterigma remnants.

Additional Photographs

Spores and sterigma remnants viewed with a x100 immersion objective. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin