 Despite its appearance and common name , C. cinnabarinum is not related to the true puffballs or to species in the genus Podaxis ( also commonly called " stalked puffballs " ) . It is also unrelated to earthstars and stinkhorns . However , C. cinnabarinum has had a complex taxonomic history that at various times confused it with each of those groups , until the advent of molecular phylogenetics . Although eaten or used in folk medicine in some areas , it is typically considered inedible . 
