Stump Puffball
Stump puffball that was peeling and looked like an earthstar! There were tons of puffballs in various states of decay on the tree, but this was the only one that resembled an earthstar. Round shape when young, but becoming pear-shaped when mature. Also, when mature, they develop a central hole through which spores are liberated by rain. This spore ball was approximately 2-3cm in diameter. These fungi are called puffballs because "puffs" of brown spores are released through the aperture when the mature fruiting body bursts. Also, they look like "balls". Hence the name "puffballs".
''Lycoperdon pyriforme'', commonly known as the pear-shaped puffball or stump puffball, is a saprobic fungus present throughout much of the world. Emerging in autumn, this puffball is common and abundant on decaying logs of both deciduous and coniferous wood. It is considered a choice edible when still immature and the inner flesh is white.
