Gemmed Puffball

Description:

Also known as the devil's snuff-box, common puffball, and warted puffball, this member of Lycoperdon stands out due to its sterile base ("stalk"), short cone-like spines on the peridium ("skin" of the mushroom), and distribution -- very widespread.

Habitat:

Deemed very common; found in all parts of the United States.

Notes:

Apparently edible when young and white; as it ages, it will darken to yellow, ochre, and then finally brown. At any point when that happens, it's not a good eat. However, even when white, many enthusiasts argue that it is, in the best case, bland, and at worst, sour and not worth collecting.