Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

A Common Puffball in Pondhead Inclosure

One of a number of similar species, the Common Puffball is also known as the Warted Puffball, the Gem-studded Puffball and the Devil's Snuff-box.

Common Puffballs are relatively common and widespread in the New Forest and are most frequently found growing singly or in groups on the ground in broad-leaved woodland during late summer and autumn.

Up to 6 centimetres in height, this club-shaped fungus is initially white before eventually taking on brownish colouration. Short spines, such as those shown in the illustration, are noticeably present on young examples, but fall off as the fungus matures.

The apex of the fungus eventually perforates to release large numbers of spores contained within the 'club head'.

Common Puffballs are edible when young but are apparently of mediocre flavour.

Warning: refer to a good, comprehensive fungus field guide to confirm identification, and only eat those species known without any doubt whatsoever to be edible - people have died after eating certain poisonous specimens.

References:
Mushrooms and other Fungi of Great Britain and Europe - Roger Phillips
The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North-western Europe - Marcel Bon
Fungi of Britain and Europe - Stefan Buczacki and John Wilkinson
The MacDonald Encyclopedia of Mushrooms and Toadstools - Giovanni Pacioni
Fungi of the New Forest: A Mycota - Edited by Gordon Dickson and Ann Leonard
A Passion for Mushrooms - Antonio Carluccio