Pear-shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme (Schaeffer) Vizzini    Synonyms: Lycoperdon pyriforme, Perlatum pyriforme.
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Basidiomycota   >   Class Agaricomycetes   >   Order Agaricales   >   Family Agaricaceae   >   Genus Apioperdon   

Description:

Fruiting body: White w/small spines when young, smooth and shades of brown in age; pear-shaped to spherical w/irregular pore at top. Interior initially white and solid, becoming greenish-yellow, finally dark brown and powdery spores (J. Solem, pers. comm.).

Where to find:

Habitat: Scattered or sheet-like groups, usually on decaying hardwood.

There are 337 records in the project database.

View taxon at MycoBank

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SOWO 
Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/8/2018). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Prince George's Co., Maryland (11/16/2017). Photo by Jane Chandler. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Prince George's Co., Maryland (11/3/2017). Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Charles Co., Maryland (10/17/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Pear-shaped Puffball in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/2/2013). Photo by Lance Biechele. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs growing on a rotting log in Washington Co., Maryland (3/11/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Howard Co., Maryland (11/16/2019). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs in Washington Co., Maryland (3/11/2013). Pear-shaped Puffballs are one of the few puffballs that grow on rotting wood. Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball growing in Baltimore City, Maryland (3/29/2018). Verified by Anne Looker. Photo by Kirsten Johnson. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/18/2019). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs in Calvert Co., Maryland (1/5/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Pear-shaped Puffball releasing spores in Howard Co., Maryland (11/16/2012). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/20/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Howard Co., Maryland (10/20/2018). Determined by Bob and Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/8/2018). Verified by Anne Looker. Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Carroll Co., Maryland (10/15/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/13/2018). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Carroll Co., Maryland (12/28/2019). (c) emilio c, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/23/2019). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/11/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/12/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Prince George's Co., Maryland (11/16/2017). Photo by Jane Chandler. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Carroll Co., Maryland (10/15/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/9/2020). (c) Dave Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dave Roberts. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffballs emerging in Howard Co., Maryland (9/28/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Howard Co., Maryland (8/15/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/3/2019). (c) jesse, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jesse via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/24/2020). (c) laurabankey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by laurabankey via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Washington Co., Maryland (10/26/2019). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/19/2017). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/23/2019). Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/20/2012). (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). Photo by Matt Muir via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Carroll Co., Maryland (12/28/2019). (c) emilio c, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Carroll Co., Maryland (12/28/2019). (c) emilio c, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) caz1hiker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by caz1hiker via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Pear-shaped Puffball specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (9/28/2014). Round, smooth, light brown; measured 3.4-3.8 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/8/2018). Verified by Anne Looker. Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/20/2012). (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by Matt Muir via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/20/2012). (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by Matt Muir via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/4/2020). (c) epic2112, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by epic2112 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/4/2020). (c) epic2112, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by epic2112 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Pear-shaped Puffball in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/27/2019). (c) Jane Hartman, all rights reserved. Photo by Jane Hartman. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Eating mushrooms can be dangerous. One should do so only with expert advice and great care. MBP accepts no liability for injury sustained in consuming fungi or other biodiversity.