My curiosity piqued, I waded through a sea of heavily scented mugwort and skin-shredding roses to discover that the ball was actually a large puffball mushroom. As cars whipped past at breakneck speed, I gently pressed my hand against the large mushroom. At any point after “white” the mushroom must be considered inedible. As its spores ripen, the puffball’s outer skin, or cuticle, develops one or two small holes called ostioles through which millions of dry spores escape at the smallest disturbance. But remember, if you plan to pick any wild mushroom, first consult an expert before attempting to eat it.

Source: New York Times November 01, 2017 18:33 UTC