About Gastropila fumosa (Zeller) P.Ponce de León
The fruit body of Gastropila fumosa ranges in size from that of a golf ball to a baseball, with a round to oval shape. It measures 3–8 cm (1+1⁄8–3+1⁄8 inches) across, and has a thick structure. When young, the fruit body surface is smooth and white, and it quickly changes to a grayish to brownish color as it matures. The internal spore mass is firm and white when young, then turns yellowish or olive, and finally becomes dark brown and powdery at maturity. This species emits an unpleasant odor during its development, and its edibility has not been confirmed. It produces fruit bodies singly, in scattered groups, or in small clusters, growing on soil in spruce-fir forests. It can be found from the Rocky Mountains westward, and fruits during the summer and fall seasons.
