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In St. Louis County, this species grows mostly in semi-open areas in oak-hickory-cedar woods, and on rich humus soil of bottomland forests. They grow to large size and have a very conspicuous skull-like shape. When sectioned in half, the bottom half of the mushroom is clearly seen as a sterile cup-like structure with few or no spores.
The fresh mushroom is white inside, and I have eaten it fried in batter like pancakes or French toast. It seems slightly acrid, not really pleasant.
Spores are a rich yellow-brown color. Under a microscope, can clearly see that several (not all) of the spores are round, smooth, and a few have a tiny "spike-like" stump "that is easy to see once the observer knows what to look for."
The mature specimen over-winters, and produces dense clouds of yellow-brown spores when stepped upon.
A.k.a. Skull-shaped puffball. |
