About this fungus
Dusty Puffball is a fungus in the Agaricaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A round grassland puffball that begins white and becomes dark purple-brown to almost black as the outer wall flakes away. Mature fruit bodies detach from a thin basal cord and can roll free.
What to check
Section the entire fruit body from top to base. A young true puffball must be uniformly firm and pure white throughout, with no cap, gills, stem or other internal outline. The inner wall later becomes dark brown to blackish and opens irregularly to release spores. There is no ring, volva or true stem.
Variation
The change from white to very dark brown is gradual, and mixed-age groups can look like different species. Old dry fruit bodies may persist for months.
Lookalikes
Lead Grey Puffball reveals a lead-grey rather than dark brown inner wall. Earthballs have thick tough skin and a dark or marbled interior. Immature Amanita show a developing cap, gills or stem when sectioned and must never be treated as puffballs.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic in pasture, lawns, heath and other open grassland, usually scattered or in small groups. Detached mature specimens may move from their original position.
Food safety
Edible.
Use this profile to learn what to examine and compare, not as proof that a mushroom is safe to eat. Check the whole specimen and every important lookalike before reaching an identification.
Species to compare
Similar mushrooms to compare against: