Common names: stump puffball, Pear-shaped Puffball.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Apioperdon pyriforme commonly known as the pear-shaped puffball or stump puffball, is a saprobic fungus present throughout much of the world. Emerging in autumn, this puffball is common and abundant on decaying logs of both deciduous and coniferous wood. It is considered a choice edible when still immature and the inner flesh is white. It is often called Lycoperdon pyriforme, but was transferred to Apioperdon in 2017 based on phylogenetic and morphological differences. It is the only species in the genus.
Apioperdon pyriforme is a species of fungus that belongs to the family Lycoperdaceae. It is a pear-shaped puffball fungus that grows up to 7 cm in diameter, with a smooth, warty, or spiny exterior and a white interior. In East and Central Texas, Apioperdon pyriforme has been found growing on the ground in wooded areas, often associated with deciduous trees such as oak and beech. It typically fruits from summer to fall, producing a cloud of brown spores when mature. The fungus is considered edible when young and immature, but can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested when mature or raw.
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a rotten tree on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2013 1618 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Masses of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a tree log on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2013 1618 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a tree log on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2013 Farm to Market Road 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Clusters of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a tree log on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2013 Farm to Market Road 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Close up of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a tree log on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2013 Farm to Market Road 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on frying pan collected from a tree log on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. College Station, Texas, November 10, 2013
Dry pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Huntsville Park. Texas, December 28, 2013 Unnamed Road, Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Mature pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Huntsville Park. Texas, December 28, 2013 Unnamed Road, Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Dry brown pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Huntsville Park. Texas, December 28, 2013 Unnamed Road, Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on rotten wood on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 20, 2017 1101 Williams Creek Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a fallen tree on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 20, 2017 1101 Williams Creek Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Close up of pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 20, 2017 1101 Williams Creek Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 25, 2017
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushroom (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, March 1, 2018 1101 Williams Creek Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Last year pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, March 1, 2018 1101 Williams Creek Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, October 28, 2018 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Immature pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 30, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 6, 2018 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 6, 2018 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on rotting oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 6, 2018 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Masses of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) near Raccoon Run Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 6, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Masses of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a downed oak near Raccoon Run Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 6, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Kirby Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 10, 2018 Kirby Nature Trail, Kountze, TX 77625, USA
Mature pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 22, 2018 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, November 18, 2019 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a fallen oak on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, November 18, 2019 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a fallen oak in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, November 27, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on an oak log on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, December 1, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, February 16, 2020 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on an oak log in Huntsville State Park. Texas, December 18, 2020 State Park Rd 40, New Waverly, TX 77358, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on rotting oak wood in Huntsville State Park. Texas, December 18, 2020 State Park Rd 40, New Waverly, TX 77358, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on a stump on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail east from Trailhead No. 4 in Sam Houston National Forest, near Montgomery. Texas, December 22, 2020 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on rotting oak at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, December 29, 2020 Lake Somerville Trailway, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
Stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on rotting oak at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, December 29, 2020 Lake Somerville Trailway, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) near fallen oak branches at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, January 18, 2021 Lake Somerville Trailway, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, March 7, 2021 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) in cross section on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, March 7, 2021 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Mature stump puffball mushrooms (Apioperdon pyriforme) south from Northern Trailhead for the Turkey Creek Trail of Big Thicket National Preserve. Warren, Texas, November 27, 2021 Farm-to-Market Road 1943, Warren, Texas 77664, United States
Stump puffball mushrooms (Apioperdon pyriforme) on a rotting oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, November 28, 2021 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Masses of stump puffball mushrooms (Apioperdon pyriforme) on a rotting oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, November 28, 2021 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Mature stump puffball mushrooms (Apioperdon pyriforme) on a rotting oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, November 28, 2021 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of pear-shaped stump puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Apioperdon pyriforme) were recorded in various locations across Texas, including Sam Houston National Forest, Big Thicket National Preserve, and Huntsville State Park. The mushrooms were found growing on rotting oak logs, stumps, and fallen branches from 2018 to 2021. They were typically observed in the fall and winter months, with some sightings in the spring. The mushrooms were often found in large masses or clusters, and their sizes and stages of maturity varied. The observations suggest that these mushrooms are common in the region and can be found in a variety of habitats, particularly in areas with abundant oak trees. Overall, the observations provide valuable information on the distribution and growth patterns of these fascinating fungi.