Common Puffball - Lycoperdon perlatum

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Description

Fruit body 2.5 to 6cm across, 2 to 9cm high, subglobose with a distinct stem, white at first becoming yellowish brown, outer layer of short pyramidal warts especially dense on the head, rubbing off to leave an indistinct mesh-like pattern on the inner wall which opens by a pore. Most Puffballs are edible when young and white inside. 

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Grows on the ground in woods

When to see it

Usually found from summer to late autumn

UK Status

Common throughout Britain

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • AJ Cann
    The Outwoods
    07 September 2014
  • David Gould
    Martinshaw Wood
    09 September 2011
  • Lostash
    Swithland Woods
    18 October 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    19 October 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    16 October 2006
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    09 November 2006

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Common Puffball
Species group:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Lycoperdaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
116
First record:
02/10/2005 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
04/11/2024 (Gaten, Ted)

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

  • Lostash
    Swithland Woods
    26 October 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    19 October 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    23 February 2012
  • Lostash
    Swithland Woods
    04 September 2010
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    14 October 2005
  • Lostash
    Whetsone Cemetary
    25 September 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Charnwood Lodge
    02 October 2005
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    23 February 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby garden
    19 July 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    19 October 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    19 October 2012