The small puffball mushroom is a versatile ingredient.
You can eat it fresh, dehydrate it, make a puree, or hummus from it.
I’ll give you some ideas to get you started.
Whether you want to eat it raw or cooked, you’ll find many ways to use it!
Scleroderma puffball
There are approximately 20 species of the Scleroderma puffball genus, with spores that are blackish.
Species are classified based on their color and texture, and a spore sample will show the different variations between species.
Specimens are grouped according to their shape and size, with the pear-shaped puffball being the most common. Other common varieties include the Gem-studded Puffball and the Scaly Earthball.
The extra-large version of the Scleroderma puffball grows in fields, meadows, and deciduous forests of temperate regions like Central and Northeast Asia. Some individuals have reported finding them in their lawns.
They grow in small numbers and are usually found in late summer and early autumn. If you notice these mushrooms growing in your lawn, be careful not to eat them.
Their poisonous spores will harm you.
The edible and inedible types of the Scleroderma puffball are similar in appearance. They both produce spores, but the edible kind is more easily found. Puffballs are a favorite among amateur mushroom growers because of their spherical appearance.
They prefer well-drained sandy soil and can grow at any elevation.
They are toxic but very interesting to study! So, when you are looking for a mushroom for your garden, be careful and look for one that is edible.
Another popular species of the Scleroderma puffball is the giant type. These mushrooms grow up to 36 inches in diameter and are rarely perfect spheres. Puffball mushrooms are best steamed or sauteed in butter.
They can also be added to soups and stews. To recognize the difference between these two species, cut a mushroom vertically, and check it for a faint outline. A yellowish outside indicates that the mushroom has spoiled and is no longer edible.
Besides the edible form, the common earthball has two subspecies. It is more similar to a puffball than to a leopard earthball, but with more spongy flesh. It is common in forest drainage ditches and can be found at low elevations.
These fungi are not lethal, but they can cause gastrointestinal distress. The symptoms are similar to those associated with other fungi but not as severe as Scleroderma puffball poisoning.
Calvatia gigantea
The giant puffball mushroom, Calvatia gigantea, is the largest variety of puffball. It grows in temperate regions of the world. Its common habitat is grasslands and meadows. It rarely grows in trees and typically re-appears in the same spot each year.
Occasionally it grows in a large circle. The most common type of puffball mushroom is the giant puffball, which grows to a staggering 52 pounds!
To identify a cultivated puffball, it is essential to know which type you’re buying. Look for a white interior and firm exterior.
The texture should be pure white on the inside. If the inside is yellow or green, it might not be edible. Also, look for worms or larvae. Puffballs are notoriously attractive to insects. Make sure to clean the mushroom well after picking it, or you risk ruining your meal!
To identify a giant puffball, you need to recognize it by its distinctive shape. The fruiting body of the Calvatia gigantea mushroom is approximately 8 feet long and weighs about 48 pounds. But it’s easy to mistake it for a soccer ball, as it can grow up to a foot across.
The spores release through tiny pores in the outer shell. The spores are easily released by a curious child stomping on the mushroom.
One study found that the spores from the Calvatia gigantea mushroom inhibited 13 out of 24 different cancer cells in animal models.
However, it’s important to note that this compound is found in small quantities in the mushroom, and prolonged administration produced an allergic reaction in some animals.
The limited accessibility of this compound may prevent clinical trials from going forward. However, it can be used as a food and medicine.
There are several species of the Calvatia gigantea, which are both edible and attractive. It is a relatively common mushroom in North America and Europe.
The name ‘gigantea’ comes from the fact that the cap is shaped like a gigantic bald skull, and a giant puffball can grow to over 80cm in diameter. The giant puffball can even weigh a few kilograms.
Scleroderma sp.
The spores released by Scleroderma sp. are emitted when the mushroom matures. Puffballs should be snow white, with no green or yellow coloring. You can check whether it’s a Scleroderma sp. small puffball mushroom by cutting it vertically and observing its outline. This mushroom is usually edible while immature.
Common Earthballs grow commonly in Britain and Ireland and are poisonous in North America. Scleroderma species are related to gasteromycetes but are different.
Gasteromycetes produce spores in a casing, similar to the way boletes produce them. Puffballs of this genus have a thick and hard skin.
In addition to being tough, they are also known as Scleroderma citrinum because of their distinctive citrine-colored skin.
In Europe, Scleroderma citrinum is found in many habitats. It’s also known as Common Earthball or Pigskin Puffball, because it has a scaly outer wall.
The spore mass is originally white but soon turns purple-black in color. It’s the only gasteromycetes species to host Pseudoboletus parasiticus.
In Japan, three people have reported getting sick by eating the fruiting body of Sclerodermataceae. The symptoms of such a poisoning are severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The patient’s wife probably did not experience any symptoms after consuming two or three slices of the fruiting body, while her husband consumed almost the whole thing.
It’s unclear which substance is the poisonous substance in Scleroderma sp. small puffball mushroom, but future studies should determine whether this substance can cause poisoning in humans.
The outer skin of the mushroom is tougher than the rest of it. To eat it, you should first brush it thoroughly to remove any dirt and dust. It can also be peeled off by using a sharp knife. The skin helps keep the inside of the mushroom moist and prevents it from drying out prematurely. The outer skin of the mushroom also acts as a barrier for the spores.
Common species of Scleroderma is called the “earth ball” mushroom. There are about 50 species of Scleroderma worldwide. Its name is derived from its shape, and it belongs to the Agaricaceae family.
Besides its appearance, the spores of this fungus are edible. To grow your own Scleroderma sp. small puffball mushroom, you must follow the steps given above.
Calvatia sp.
The Calvatia sp. small puffball mushroom has many uses. It can be used as a styptic dressing or as tinder. In days before matches and lighters, people would carry a small lump of this fungus for fire.
Beekeepers also used the smoky smoke of the giant puffball to calm their bees. These are all common uses for this unique fungus.
If you plan to grow this mushroom in your own kitchen, you can buy the immature varieties. The interior of the mushroom is white and soft. If you plan on consuming the mushroom, cut the cap vertically.
Check for the outline of the mushroom before adding it to the water. Once the fungus is ready, it can be sauteed in butter and added to stews or soups.
This mushroom is easy to identify from other mushrooms, but there are many similar species that may be mistaken for this type. You can determine a Puffball mushroom by observing its spores.
The spores of the Calvatia sp. small puffball mushroom are purple in color, while the spores of other fungi are lighter in tone.
If you are unsure of what you’re looking for, you can do microscopic tests to determine which species are which.
This mushroom is easy to identify, thanks to its fluff-like appearance. This fluff later becomes spores, which are dispersed by wind. If you find this mushroom in your garden, you’ll know it’s a true medicinal mushroom.
One or two Calvatia sp. mushrooms will do wonders for your dish. It can absorb other flavors and work in combination with other foods.
Conclusion
While many puffballs look similar to amanita, they are not.
They start life as a tight ball that contains gills and a stem. In their early stages, the puffball looks similar to a soccer ball, but its spores are poisonous.
It’s best to cut one of these mushrooms open to ensure its purity. Otherwise, the puffball is probably not an amanita.
