Deceptive Puffball

Lycoperdon decipiens

Coniferous and deciduous forests. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies small, 2-4 cm across, fibrous, shaggily warty, globose when young, later pear-shaped, the upper part (the head) wider, narrowing towards the base into a tapering stem. Young fruiting bodies yellowish-orange, coppery-pinkish, old ones brown. Flesh brown. Characteristic features: the upper part of the fruiting body is yellowish-orange, reddish-copper in colour, which makes this puffball easy to distinguish from others. Grows in summer and autumn in coniferous and deciduous forests, singly or in twos or threes (Valkininkai forests, Varėna district). Should be classed as deserving protection.