Got a photo? Identify mushrooms instantly with the Mushby app
Open the appDescription
The Pestle Puffball (Handkea excipuliformis) is a common puffball mushroom often found in meadows, fields, and open woodlands. It is characterized by its pear-shaped to club-shaped fruit body and smooth, white to brownish outer surface. As it matures, the interior becomes a powdery mass of spores.
How to Identify
- Cap
- The Pestle Puffball does not have a distinct cap. The entire fruit body is a single structure.
- Gills
- Absent. Spores are produced inside the gleba.
- Stem
- Absent or rudimentary. If present, it is a short, sterile base.
- Flesh
- The flesh (gleba) is white and firm when young, turning yellowish and then brownish as it matures. Only consume when the flesh is uniformly white.
- Fruiting body
- Pear-shaped to club-shaped, 5-20 cm tall, 4-10 cm wide. White when young, becoming brownish with age.
- Habitat
- Found in meadows, fields, and open woodlands, often growing on the ground.
Key Facts
- Cap surfaces: Smooth when young, may become cracked with age
- Growth Form: Solitary or in groups
- Spore Print: Olive-brown
- Body color: White to brownish
- Odor: Mild, mushroomy
- Flesh bruises: Does not bruise
- Height: 5-20 cm
- Cap Diameter: N/A (no distinct cap)
- Nutrient gathering: Saprophytic
Safe
SafeGenerally considered edible when young and the flesh is uniformly white. Mature specimens with yellowish or brownish flesh should be avoided as they can cause gastrointestinal upset. Always ensure proper identification to avoid confusion with toxic look-alikes.
Quick Check
- Odor: Mild, mushroomy
- Fruiting: Late summer to autumn
- Substrate: Ground in meadows, fields, and open woodlands
Where to Find
Open grasslands
Meadows and fields
Woodland edges
Open woodlands
Roadsides and paths
Disturbed soil areas
Finding Tips
Early Stage
Look for white, roundish structures emerging from the ground.
Habitat
Check areas with decaying organic matter, as they are saprophytic.
Timing
Search after rainfall, as puffballs often appear following wet conditions.
Similar Species
Calvatia craniiformis
Mushroom
Also known as: Skull-shaped Puffball
Calvatia utriformis
Mushroom
Also known as: Mosaic Puffball
Scientific Classification
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Agaricales
- Family
- Lycoperdaceae
- Genus
- Handkea
Storage Information
- Max Temperature: -18°C
- Freezing duration: 6 months
- Min Temperature: 2°C
- Refrigeration: 2-3 days
How to Clean
Wipe off any dirt or debris with a damp cloth. Ensure the puffball is firm and white inside before consumption.
Explore Pestle Puffball
Identify mushrooms anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo identification, full database, and your personal collection.