Calvatia utriformis    (Bull.:Pers.) Jaap 

common name(s) : Mosaic Puffball, Saddle-shaped Puffball 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Agaricomycetidae/Agaricales/Agaricaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Gasteromycetideae/Lycoperdales/Lycoperdaceae  

synonyms: Lycoperdon utriforme, Handkea utriformis, Calvatia bovista, Calvatia caelata, Lycoperdon caelatum, Lycoperdon bovista 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Lycoperdon coelatum)  

edibility : edible

potential confusions with Calvatia utriformis toxicity of Calvatia utriformis genus Calvatia  

The fruiting body is pear-shaped with a flat top, covered with pyramidal warts then hexagonal patches, white to pale grey-brown, very short and thick stem, not clearly marked from the fertile head.

The fertile surface is internal: the spores are released as dust when mature. The spore print is olive brown.

It grows on the ground, in meadows, pastures.

The fruiting period takes place from June to December.
Dimensions: width of fruiting body approximately 11 cm (between 5 and 20 cm)
  total height approximately 9 cm (between 5 and 15 cm)

Distinctive features : sorry, no English description yet

Calvatia utriformis is rare and confined in the forest of Rambouillet, and is occasional, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Calvatia utriformis in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Calvatia utriformis in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18