Synonym: Bovista craniiformis.
Common names: Skull-shaped Puffball, Brain puffball.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Calvatia craniiformis, commonly known as the brain puffball or the skull-shaped puffball, is a species of puffball fungus in the family Agaricaceae. It is found in Asia, Australia, and North America, where it grows on the ground in open woods. Its name, derived from the same Latin root as cranium, alludes to its resemblance to an animal's brain. The skull-shaped fruit body is 8–20 cm (3–8 in) broad by 6–20 cm (2–8 in) tall and white to tan. Initially smooth, the skin (peridium) develops wrinkles and folds as it matures, cracking and flaking with age. The peridium eventually sloughs away, exposing a powdery yellow-brown to greenish-yellow spore mass (the gleba). The puffball is edible when the gleba is still white and firm, before it matures to become yellow-brown and powdery. Mature specimens have been used in the traditional or folk medicines of China, Japan, and the Ojibwe as a hemostatic or wound dressing agent. Several bioactive compounds have been isolated and identified from the brain puffball.
Japanese: ノウタケ.
Calvatia craniiformis is a species of puffball fungus that grows up to 10 cm in diameter, with a brain-like appearance and brownish-gray exterior. It is found in fields, meadows, and open woods, particularly in East and Central Texas, where it fruits from May to October. The fungus has been recorded in counties including Brazos, Grimes, and Williamson, often associated with sandy or clay soils and full sun to partial shade.
Brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 7, 2013
Post Oak Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, October 8, 20138181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) near Harvey Road. College Station, Texas, November 19, 2017210, Harvey Road, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 25, 2017Kiwanis Nature Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77843, United States
Brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 5, 20184833 Coopers Hawk Drive, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Group of brain puffball mushroom (Calvatia craniiformis) on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 5, 20184833 Coopers Hawk Drive, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Mature puffball mushrooms Calvatia craniiformis in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, October 10, 20188181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Brain puffball mushrooms (Calvatia craniiformis) in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 23, 2018520 Harvey Rd, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Brain puffball mushrooms (Calvatia craniiformis) on a lawn in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 23, 2018520 Harvey Rd, College Station, TX 77840, USAObservations of Calvatia craniiformis in East and Central Texas indicate that the fungus is commonly found in parks and natural areas. Specifically, sightings were reported in Lick Creek Park, Lake Bryan Park, and Wolf Pen Creek Park in College Station and Bryan, Texas. The fungus was observed growing on trails, such as Post Oak Trail and Kiwanis Nature Trail, as well as on lawns. Multiple sightings occurred in the fall season, with dates ranging from October to December. In some cases, groups of brain puffball mushrooms were found, suggesting that the fungus can thrive in certain environments. The observations span several years, from 2013 to 2018, indicating that Calvatia craniiformis is a persistent presence in the region. Overall, the data suggest that the fungus is widely distributed and can be found in various habitats throughout East and Central Texas.
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