puff ball?

[Helsbells]

I am pretty sure that these are puff balls. Found them under bushy trees, oak, hawthorne etc. They have a really strong mushroomy smell and are rubbery feeling.

Are these definately puff balls? Is there anything poisonous that could be mistaken for puff balls?

Thanks,

Hels




I have more photos, there are two differant ones, the second one is much small than the first.

[eccentricemma]

We get loads of these round here, definitely puffballs - I've eaten loads. There are members of the puffball family which aren't edible (but i dont think they're fatal) but they are covered in spikes and smell bad so you probably wouldn't want to eat them anyway!

[Carltonian Man]

Definitely puffballs HB. Not perfectly formed examples as dense undergrowth has restricted them, however they could still make excellent eating. For firmness when tapping your fingers on the surface they should sound like a tight drum, the higher the note the better.
The only really possible and inedible confusion would be with a plastic football so no worries on the poisonous front. Keep your eyes on the same spot, there could be others growing with any luck..

Breakfast for us today was a slice of PB (found unexpectedly, next to a local football pitch) fried in butter and served on toast, topped with a poached egg.

P.S. if cutting into slices, peel the rubber band of skin off after cutting for a clean-edged disc

Hope you enjoy
CM

[oldjerry]

Ours have been really small this year,can't be lack of rain,but they always arrive here 2-3 weeks before the horse mushrooms.Last year they were also small and there were hardly any mushrooms,this our last autumn here so fingers crossed,wish my breakfast was half as good as yours!

[Carltonian Man]

Not sure where your location is OJ, but both puffballs and horse mushrooms are out here.

[oldjerry]

Ok, I already envy your breakfast,how much envy can one bloke deal with?

[Helsbells]

Thanks for your replies, I'll enjoy the puffballs for breakfast tomorrow!

I also found these, I didnt pick any of them as I wasnt sure what they were. They range in size from saucer size to dinnerplate size. Are they a type of Parasol mushroom?



Some of these were very large funnel like

[123sologne]

I found some puffballs too yesterday! My 1st giant puffballs ever! I am certainly going to have some today. I was thinking of slicing & frying them, but didn't think of adding an egg with them, so I think that is what I will do.
As for your pictures Helsbells, I think the 1st ones are parasols but it is difficult to see how high they are. I love parasols, found plenty last year, but none yet this year.

[Carltonian Man]

Re parasols HB, the stipes look smooth from what I can see on the piccy which makes them shaggy parasols. Some people eat them although due to the fact that they can cause digestive upset and skin rashes I've always left them alone. Normal parasols have a definite snake-like patern on the stem. If you do decide to try them double check and make a more positive ID beforehand. Also you may wish to remove the umbo before cooking, if it's hard it can leave you feeling rather squiffy for a few hours.
Not at all sure about the lower piccies, maybe try http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/

[pitwipe]

I read on the internets, so it must be true ;) , that the non-edible puffballs have gills on the inside when you cut them in half, while the edible ones do not.

[Helsbells]

Had them friend with butter, garlic and bacon in a toasted sandwich, they were delicious and we didn't die!! Yippee!