Page 274 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Stump Puffball, Lycoperdon

pyriforme (LYCOPERDACEAE)

STUMP PUFFBALLS grow on decaying hardwoods SPORES: 3-4.5 µm, globose, smooth, olive-brown
and conifers, including logs, stumps, and mulch. If EDIBLE PARTS: young fruiting body
the wood is buried, these mushrooms can appear ter-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This mushroom shows strong
restrial. Widely distributed and common, they occur
antimicrobial activity. It has been applied externally to
in scattered or dense groups from summer to early
wounds and sores.
winter.
HOW TO EAT: Puffballs are edible when they are
FRUITING BODY: Young puffballs begin nearly round,
young, firm, and completely white throughout. Before
soon developing an upside-down pear shape. They
cooking, remove the tough outer skin and discard any
are 0.6-1.8 inches (1.5-4.5cm) tall and often nearly as
specimens that show signs of yellowing.
wide at the bulge. The dry exterior is whitish to tan
PUFFBALL SCRAMBLED EGGS: Ingredients: puffballs
when young, and mostly smooth or with sparse tiny
(halved), olive oil, 2 splashes sherry, salt, pepper, 1
spines. In age, the skin toughens, becoming brown,
splash soy sauce, 3 eggs, 1 splash of milk, grated Par-
cracked, and granular. A hole emerges at the top of the
mesan. Sauté puffballs in oil. Once tender, reduce heat
fruiting body, through which the mushroom releases
and add sherry, salt, pepper, and soy sauce. Sweat for
its spores.
5 min. Whisk 3 eggs with a splash of milk. Pour over
STERILE BASE: The sterile base, which may be bare-
mushrooms, add Parmesan cheese, and scramble.
ly developed or stem-like, is whitish and chambered.
WARNING: Inhaling spores can cause respiratory ill-
Tiny, white root-like rhizomorphs extend from it and
ness, especially in immuno-compromised people.
permeate the surrounding wood.
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKE: Earth Ball, Scleroderma
SPORE MASS: Beginning white, firm, and fleshy, the
citrinum - tough, warty skin; insides usually black or
fruiting body’s interior turns yellowish and gritty as
purple-blue though occasionally white. Some deadly
it ages, eventually becoming an olive-brown powder.
Amanitas grow from a whitish egg sack; if bisected, a
This spore mass is released through a pore at the top
white mushroom is usually visible
of the puffball.
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