Death cap in the egg stage Amanita phalloides
deadly poisonous
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In a lengthways cut, you can see the outlines of cap, gills and stem.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The common puffball is a white, pear- to bottle-shaped puffball with conical spines that leave a net pattern. Only very young specimens with a pure white, uniform interior are edible.
SeasonJune to November
Spore printolive brown (spore mass)
FamilyLycoperdaceae
- Cap. The fruiting body is 3 to 8 cm tall, spherical at the top, narrowed into a stem-like base below, white to cream and covered with conical spines that wipe off.
- Underside. There is no underside. Inside lies the spore mass, white and firm when young, later yellowish, olive-brown and powdery.
- Stem, ring and volva. The lower part is stem-like and sterile. There is no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. It smells faintly mushroomy.
- Flesh and colour change. The inside is pure white when young, without any structure of cap, stem or gills.
Lookalikes
Cut every puffball in half lengthways: a young death cap in the egg stage shows a cap and gills in the cut.
Common earthball Scleroderma citrinum
poisonous
Its skin is thick and cracked into scaly patches, and the inside is marbled black-violet early on.
View on the mapDusky puffball Lycoperdon nigrescens
inedible
Its spines are dark and lean together in groups, and it smells of coal gas.
View on the mapHabitat & Season
Litter and humus-rich soil. From the lowlands up to the hills and mountains.
Host trees
Broadleaved and coniferous woods, forest tracks.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Only eat mushrooms you have identified beyond doubt, and always cook them thoroughly.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
No species-specific rule known.
Red List Germany: Least concern
In the kitchen
Cut into slices and fry briefly in butter, or bread them. Cook thoroughly.
Not suitable. Use only if the inside is pure white and uniform; throw away yellowish parts.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free mushrooms that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and process them on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Common puffball: Is it edible?
Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Cut every puffball in half lengthways: a young death cap in the egg stage shows a cap and gills in the cut.
Common puffball: When and where does it grow?
In Central Europe the season runs from June to November. Tree partners and habitat: Broadleaved and coniferous woods, forest tracks. Soil: Litter and humus-rich soil. Altitude: From the lowlands up to the hills and mountains.
Common puffball: What are the look-alikes?
The most important one to rule out is Death cap in the egg stage (Amanita phalloides, deadly poisonous): In a lengthways cut, you can see the outlines of cap, gills and stem. Other look-alikes: Common earthball, Dusky puffball.
Related species
- Cep Boletus edulis
- Golden chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius
- Parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera
- Bay bolete Imleria badia
- Field mushroom Agaricus campestris
- Lawyers' wig Coprinus comatus
Sources
- Flaschen-Stäubling (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Lycoperdon perlatum Pers.
- Index Fungorum Record 220647
- Rote-Liste-Zentrum: Großpilze Deutschlands (Dämmrich et al. 2016)
- ÖMG: Pilzschutzbestimmungen in Österreich (Stand 29.01.2021)
- RIS: Forstgesetz 1975 § 174
- DGfM: Giftpilze und Pilzvergiftungen
- DGfM: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
Photo credits
- Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Starhopper · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Death cap in the egg stage: Photo: Justin Pierce (Mushroom Observer) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Common earthball: Photo: Strobilomyces · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Dusky puffball: Photo: Júlio Reis (User:Tintazul) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.