Spore Formation

PUFFBALLS go PUFF! These beloved ground fungi are solid when young, but as they mature, they turn into a spore filled chamber that puffs out clouds of spores. This clever dispersal mechanism helps ensure the spores travel far when they get knocked by raindrops. The species featured in this video is the pear-shaped puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme), named for its small shape that resembles a pear. Some puffballs, like the giant puff ball (Calvatia gigantea), can grow to over a foot in diameter! #fu