Warted Giant Puffball, Sculptured Puffball
Found in the various montane ranges of the West this striking puffball can reach 6 inches across and 4 inches tall. The exterior consists of pyramidal warts arising from a polygonal base up to 2/3 of an inch across, and aboujt 1/5 inch tall. The interior consist of a soft white gleba that will generate billions of spores as it changes color to olive and then brown and splits open at the apex, releasing clouds of them. In age it turns yellowish-brown. It is encountered at mid-range altitude on trails and in clearings in conifer forests. It is edible when the gleba is still pure white, but not after changing color. It is usually encountered solitary but sometimes can occur in small groups. Fried in slices it can be quite tasty.