Lycoperdon pulcherrimum
One of our favorite foray sites is Woodridge Park,
on the west side of Clinton Reservoir. This rather unusual, but lovely,
little puffball has been collected there on several occasions. The
spines remain white and leave a smooth, shiny surface when they shed.
Lycoperdon echinatum is similar, but its
spines turn brown and leave a net like pattern of scars when shed.
A Guide to Kansas Mushrooms notes that the species
appear to intergrade in Kansas, and specimens whose spines turn brown but
do not leave a network of scars are common.
by Ron Meyers