''Lycoperdon'' is a genus of

puffball Puffballs are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that (when mature) bursts on contact or impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores into the surrounding area. Puffballs belong to the division Basidiomycota and encompass sever ...

mushrooms. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 50 species. In general, it contains the smaller species such as the pear-shaped puffball and the gem-studded puffball. It was formerly

classified Classified may refer to: General *Classified information, material that a government body deems to be sensitive *Classified advertising or "classifieds" Music *Classified (rapper) (born 1977), Canadian rapper * The Classified, a 1980s American ro ...

within the now-obsolete order

Lycoperdales The Lycoperdales are a now outdated order of fungi. The order included some well-known types such as the giant puffball, the earthstars, and other tuberous fungi. They were defined as having epigeous basidiomes, a hymenium present, one to three ...

, as the type genus which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by

molecular phylogeny Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

, has been split. ''Lycoperdon'' is now placed in the family

Agaricaceae The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and include the genus ''Agaricus'', as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. Taxonomy The family Agaricaceae was publishe ...

of the order

Agaricales The Agaricales are an order (biology), order of fungi in the division (mycology), division Basidiomycota. As originally conceived, the order contained all the agarics (gilled mushrooms), but subsequent research has shown that not all agarics are ...

. The scientific name has been created with Greek words (''lycos'' meaning ''wolf'' and ''perdomai'' meaning ''to fart'') and based on several European dialects in which the mushroom name sounds like ''wolf-farts''. Most species are edible, ranging from mild to tasting distinctly of shrimp.

Species

* '' Lycoperdon caudatum'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon pedicellatum'') J.Schröt. * ''

Lycoperdon curtisii ''Lycoperdon curtisii'' is a type of puffball mushroom in the genus ''Lycoperdon''. It was first described scientifically in 1859 by Miles Joseph Berkeley. ''Vascellum curtisii'', published by Hanns Kreisel in 1963, is a synonym. Its fruit bodie ...

'' * ''

Lycoperdon echinatum ''Lycoperdon echinatum'', commonly known as the spiny puffball or the spring puffball, is a type of puffball mushroom in the family Agaricaceae. The saprobic species has been found in Africa, Europe, Central America, and North America, where i ...

'' Pers. * '' Lycoperdon ericaceum'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon muscorum'') * '' Lycoperdon ericaceum'', var. ''subareolatum'' * '' Lycoperdon lambinonii'' Demoulin 1972 * '' Lycoperdon lividum'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon spadiceum'') Pers. 1809 * '' Lycoperdon mammiforme'' Pers. 1801 * '' Lycoperdon marginatum'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon candidum'') Vittadini * ''

Lycoperdon molle ''Lycoperdon'' is a genus of puffball mushrooms. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 50 species. In general, it contains the smaller species such as the pear-shaped puffball and the gem-studded puffball. It was formerly cla ...

'' * '' Lycoperdon nigrescens'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon foetidum'') Bonord * '' Lycoperdon norvegicum'' Demoulin 1971 * '' Lycoperdon ovoidisporum'' * ''

Lycoperdon perlatum ''Lycoperdon perlatum'', popularly known as the common puffball, warted puffball, gem-studded puffball or devil's snuff-box, is a species of puffball fungus in the family Agaricaceae. A widespread species with a cosmopolitan distribution, it ...

'' (Syn. ''Lycoperdon gemmatum'') * '' Lycoperdon pratense'' * '' Lycoperdon pyriforme'' Schaeff. 1774 * '' Lycoperdon pulcherrimum'' Berk. & M.A. Curtis * '' Lycoperdon rupicola'' * '' Lycoperdon subincarnatum'' * '' Lycoperdon subumbrinum'' * ''

Lycoperdon umbrinum ''Lycoperdon umbrinum'', commonly known as the umber-brown puffball, is a type of Puffball mushroom in the genus ''Lycoperdon''. It is a saprophyte, and grows mainly in coniferous forests. It is found in China, Europe, Africa, and North America ...

References

External links

* * Agaricales genera Agaricaceae Puffballs {{agaricaceae-stub

Species

See also

References

External links