Calvatia gigantea (Giant puffball)
Family
Lycoperdaceae
Location
North America, Asia and Europe
Dimensions
7-80 cm diameter * 7-80 cm tall
Edibility
This site contains no information about the edibility or toxicity of mushrooms.
Description
Calvatia gigantea, commonly known as the giant puffball, is a puffball mushroom commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests usually in late summer and autumn. This is a very easy to recognise puffball and once fully developed it cannot reasonably be mistaken for any other mushroom.

Fruiting body shaped like a ball, or nearly so, white when fresh, becoming yellowish or olive brownish. The surface is less than 1 mm thick. soft, finely velvety when young, becoming bald. The inside of mature Giant puffballs is greenish-brown, whereas the interior of immature puffballs is white. Spore print olive-brown.

Microscopic Features: The spores measure 2.5-4 µm and have a subglobose to globose shape, with or without a short pedicel. They have a smooth surface and thick walls. In KOH (potassium hydroxide), they appear hyaline (colorless) to yellowish.

Synonyms: A common synonym is Langermannia gigantea.

Calvatia gigantea on the www.first-nature.com web site.
Calvatia gigantea on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.

Many mushrooms are poisonous, and some can be lethally toxic. Distinguishing between edible and poisonous mushrooms can be very challenging. Therefore, we strongly advise against consuming wild mushrooms. This website does not contain any information about the edibility or toxicity of mushrooms.

Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy on this website, the information may contain errors and omissions. Therefore, all content provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon or used as a basis for consuming any plants or mushrooms.

Links to external websites that provide information about mushrooms are included for reference purposes only. We do not endorse, or assume responsibility for the information, content, or recommendations provided on these external sites.