The western giant puffball is the largest puffball in North America, reaching up to 70 cm in diameter. It is as large as its European counterpart the Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea), although it features a more irregular shape than its European cousin.
Cap Diameter:
15 - 30 cm
Odor:
Mild, not notably distinctive.
In This Article
Attributes
Toxicity and Edibility
Similar Species
Tips for Finding
Clean and Preserve
Common Questions
General Info About Western giant puffball
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Attributes of Western giant puffball
Cap Diameter
15 - 30 cm
Height
10 - 30 cm
Cap
15 - 30 cm across; shaped like a large blob; whitish; dry, fairly bald
At lower elevations, the western giant puffball occurs in fields, pastures, open grassy areas, sagebrush steppes, and occasionally in coastal grasslands; in mountain regions, it occurs in along roads, in subalpine meadows, open woodlands, and forest clearings. It grows on the ground.
Scientific Classification of Western giant puffball
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Edibility of Western giant puffball
Western giant puffball is reported to be edible and tasty only when young, when the fruitbodies are firm and white inside. It tastes a bit like tofu, and it can have a laxative effect on some people. This mushroom was historically eaten by pioneers and Native Americans in North America.
Similar Species to Western giant puffball
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Tips for Finding Western giant puffball
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What are the Ideal Soil Conditions for Western giant puffball
Prefers well-drained soil in open landscapes.
What are Some Tips for Finding Western giant puffball
Look for western giant puffball in open, grassy areas, or areas with sagebrush.
Search in open fields, meadows, and possibly near dirt roads or forest openings.
Inspect the ground for formations like fairy rings where western giant puffball could grow gregariously.
Keep an eye out for western giant puffball in lower elevation fields and higher elevation subalpine meadows.
Check under sage brush as western giant puffball may grow alone or cluster together in these spots.
How to Clean and Preserve Western giant puffball
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Common Questions People Also Ask
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