This picture shows a section about 1-1/2 inches by 3 inches of a sculpted puffball (Calvatia sculpta). I felt fortunate to find an example with such well-developed and photogenic 'warts'. The next page in this section shows the entire puffball in its natural setting.
Sculpted puffballs are found in dry areas of the west. This one was found on Surveyors Ridge at an altitude of 4800' in relatively arid Horkelia Meadow on the road to High Prairie and Lookout Mountain. Horkelia Meadow is almost exactly 8 miles due east of the summit of Mt. Hood.
The sculpted puffball is edible. Do follow all the usual precautions when trying this or any mushroom. Me, I'm chicken and I don't eat any of them.
