This is a cool mushroom. What is it?

This is a picture of a mushroom that someone on another forum I go to took pics of. It is in Mid-Wisconsin area and growing now.
Any ideas what it is? (edited for spelling)

This message was edited Oct 20, 2009 2:47 PM

Here is a pic of the bottom (much like the top).

That is a most interesting mushroom. I have tried to identify it using an identification key on Rogers Mushroom's web site but not having seen the specimen in person, it's difficult to do. Here is the link to the site and maybe you'll be able to identify it:

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/chooser.asp

If that fails, you may try to contact your local master gardener office at your County Extension Office.

Please let us know if you do find an ID for that one. It's very pretty.

Sylvain.

I got another update from the friend on another forum:

Found it! It's a Lycoperdon echinatum, otherwise known as a spiny puffball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoperdon_echinatum

Thanks for the update. When I first looked at the picture, I told myself it could be a puffball but the spines threw me off. I learned something today. I am in your debt.

Sylvain.

another puffball with interesting designs

spiney puffballs are actually soft to touch.