Calvatia gigantea, commonly known in English as the giant puffball, is a puffball mushroom commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests in late summer and autumn. It is found in temperate areas … 展开

The giant puffball is widespread and common in the United Kingdom. It is protected in parts of Poland and is of conservation concern in Norway. 展开

• Zhu, Wenyou; Guo, Chunxia; Luo, Fan (January 2015). "Optimization of Calvatia gigantea myceliaproduction from distillery wastewater". … 展开

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Calvatia gigantea typically grows up to 20–50 centimetres (8–19+1⁄2 in) wide and high. According to First Nature, it "can grow to 80 cm diameter and weigh several kilograms". A specimen weighing over 23 kg (51 … 展开

The classification of this species has been revised in recent years. First Nature explains that "puffballs, earthballs, earthstars, stinkhorns and several other kinds of fungi were once thought to be related and were known as the gasteromycetes or … 展开

Cooking
The large white mushrooms are edible when young, as are all true puffballs, but they can cause digestive issues if the spores have begun to … 展开

• Video footage of mature Giant Puffballs
• The Giant Puffball
• VOLATILES OF THE GIANT PUFFBALL MUSHROOM (Calvatia gigantea) 展开