A genus of fungi (family Lycoperdaceae), some species of which have been used medicinally, e.g., in alternative medicine, by nasal inhalation to treat epistaxis. The spores of Lycoperdon bovista (Lycoperdon gemmatum, Lycoperdon caelatum) and of Lycoperdon pyriforme may rarely produce lycoperdonosis. SYN: puffball. [G. lykos, wolf, + perdomai, to break wind]
