Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Lycoperdon
Species: Lycoperdon
Lycoperdon is a species of puffball mushroom which have a widespread distribution. It was formerly classified within the now-obsolete order Lycoperdales, as the type genus which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by molecular phylogeny, has been split. Lycoperdon is now placed in the family Agaricaceae of the order Agaricales.
The name comes from Lycos meaning wolf and perdon meaning to break wind; thus the name literally means wolf-farts.
This puffball was found in on the grass near Lake Mahinapua, Westland. It might be Lycoperdon ericaeum ?.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/