Soft Puffball - Lycoperdon molle

Description

A medium-sized puffball with a short stem; the fruit body is initially whitish, maturing to pale brown or darker.  The surface is covered with fragile more or less convergent spines; these are soft and fragile and soon wear off to leave a smooth surface. 

Similar Species

other Lycoperdon

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph in habitat and with close-up detail of surface ornamentation; ensure photos show all of the puffball including stem or base. 

Habitat

Woodlands, on soil under conifers or deciduous trees

When to see it

Autumn

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Soft Puffball, Soft-Spined Puffball
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Lycoperdaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
13/01/2009 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
13/01/2009 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records