Podaxis pistillaris

Older synonyms for this species include Lycoperdon pistillare L. (1771) and Scleroderma pistillare (L.) Pers. (1801).

The species' common name stems from its superficial resemblance to the shaggy mane, Coprinus comatus, the deliquescing gills of which it lacks.^[1]

It is an agaric, though it has lost hymenophoral organization and the ability to forcibly discharge its spores and become "secotioid".^[2] Although considered by many to be a "stalked puffball", P. pistillaris is more closely allied with the shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus) than with puffballs.^[3]

The pileus is a pod that grows up to 11 centimetres (4+1⁄4 in) tall.^[4] It has a hard, woody stem. The large cap, which protects the blackish spore-bearing tissue, forms scales^[5] and splits; it usually falls away at maturity, allowing the spores to be dispersed by wind.

The spore print is dark brown to black,^[4] if obtainable.^[5]

The spores are usually 10–14 (–16) by (8–) 9–12 μm, broadly oval to sub-globose,^[5] smooth yellow to deep reddish-brown with a double wall, truncate base, and apical pore. Older spore measurements have varied considerably. Species from Australian collections appear to be more subglobose than those seen from the United States, raising the possibility that the latter are not the same species.^{[citation needed]}

Some less common species in the genus appear very similar but the spores are smaller.^[5]