Fungus · GBIF taxon 2536054
Purple-spored Puffball
Calvatia cyathiformisAlso known as Cup-shaped Puffball, Purple Puffball
Purple-spored puffballs emerge as rounded, pale brownish-white globes in open grasslands, pastures, and sun-bathed lawns. As the fruiting body matures, its leathery outer skin breaks open to reveal a purplish to dark violet-brown spore mass inside. After releasing millions of airborne spores, the papery, cup-shaped base often persists for months through autumn and winter.
GrasslandDecomposerSpore Dropper
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Saprobic (decomposing organic matter)
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnats
- Rodents
ThreatsHeavy pesticide application, habitat loss to urban development
HabitatsGrasslands, pastures, lawns, prairies
Life spanFruiting body lasts 1–3 weeks; subterranean mycelium lives for years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyLycoperdaceae
- GenusCalvatia
- SpeciesCalvatia cyathiformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Spore Dusting: Lightly tapping a dry, mature fruiting body releases a cloud of purple spores.
- Habitat Scouting: Look for these distinctly shaped fungi after soaking rains in undisturbed meadows.
- Base Inspection: Look for the cup-shaped, sterile base remaining late into the season.
Tribe Member (c) Jacob Weston, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacob Weston · cc-by
Toxic Look-Alike (c) Malte Krömer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Malte Krömer · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Yehor Yatsiuk · cc0
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