Skull-Shaped Puffball

Calvatia craniiformis

Family: Lycoperdaceae

Also called: Brain Puffball, Skull-Shaped Puffball

Skull-Shaped Puffball (Calvatia craniiformis)
Photo:Sindhu Ramchandran, the mushroom was identified by Mr Marco Della Maggiora, Italy(CC BY 2.5)View original source →

Overview

Wrinkled skull-shaped puffball of eastern woodland edges. Good edible while pure white inside.

Edibility
Edible
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
saprotrophic
Typical peak
Sep–Oct

Season

Sep–Nov — typical fruiting months: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Host trees & substrate

  • Decaying oak wood and forest litter
  • Decaying beech wood and forest litter
  • Decaying maple wood and forest litter

Where it grows

See live fruiting predictions for Skull-Shaped Puffball on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.