Last find of the year

[Bruce 42]

I took advantage of warm weather last Sunday (64 degrees in Ellettsville/Spencer) to do some late-season hiking and collect a limited supply of the Indiana mycophagist's last refuge -- the Pear-Shaped Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme).

See https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tay4HOhiLx0MtCDYLItl4LvyCPfidZgU

Despite all my efforts in the field, I still had to meticulously tear each little mushroom in half and throw away about a third of the ones that were showing signs of sporulating. Not sure what I'll do with them yet, but I ought to do something special.

Bruce

[Sandra 0]

I'm new here. I have mushroom hinted in Tennessee. But I've never seen a puffball. I have no clue what they are. They are edible?

[Dhuntington 66]

There are several types of puffballs. And yes they are edible. The picture is of a jem studded puffball. Cant find my other puffball pics right now. But you can look up the identifications of the puffball group. 

[Dhuntington 66]

Also a good book i would suggest is edible wild mushrooms of illinois and surrounding states. Depending on your location in indiana you might be able to find a member on here to go with and learn some different mushrooms. 

[FrankW 1]

Sandra, puffballs are very easy to identify but can range in sizes. here is something you may find useful...https://www.bing.com/search?q=puffball+mushroom&form=EDNTHN&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&msnews=1&rec_search=1&plvar=0&refig=a482e0e114a2435cbf57b62b3e14150d&PC=HCTS&sp=2&pq=puffball&sc=8-8&qs=LS&sk=AS1&cvid=a482e0e114a2435cbf57b62b3e14150d&cc=US&setlang=en-US one thing to keep in mind if you find what you believe to be an edible puffball is when you open it up it should be pure white if you are considering eating it.