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Giant puffball

Calvatia gigantea

A species of Calvatia

These distinctive round, white fungi appear around the world in fields and at the edges of wooded areas. Living up to its name, a single giant puffball can grow as large as a watermelon. They have no stems, and produce trillions of spores that release into the air through holes in “puffs.” They have been used as slow-burning tinder and produce copious smoke when set aflame. Giant puffballs are technically edible, but should only be consumed when the mushroom is young and firm.

Cap Diameter:

20 - 30 cm

Odor:

Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.

General Info About Giant puffball

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Attributes of Giant puffball

Cap Diameter

20 - 30 cm

Height

10 - 70 cm

Cap

20 - 30 cm across; ball; white to yellowish or olive brownish

Stem

without any stem

Flesh

First yellow, then brown

Spore Print Color

Olive-brown

Odor

Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.

Body Color

Brown

Yellow

White

Flesh Bruises

The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.

Growth Form

Solitary, Gregarious

Nutrient Gathering

Saprophytic

Substrate

On soil

Occurence Habitats

Meadows, Scrublands, Disturbed Lands

Species Status

Fairly widely distributed from the Great Plains eastward.

Endangered Species

How to Identify Giant puffball

Fruiting Body Flesh Habit & Habitat

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Habitat of Giant puffball

You might see giant puffball mushrooms at the edges of meadows, in ditches, or under brush and trees at the edges of woodlands. They feed on detritus like decomposing plant matter and dung.

Distribution Area of Giant puffball

Eastern North America,Europe,Central America,northern Asia,Australia,New Zealand

Hunting Values of Giant puffball

Edible in its youthful stage.

Uses of Giant puffball

Giant puffball is valued for its edibility when young, with a preference in seasonal gourmet cooking. However, it must be consumed with caution due to potential toxins accumulating as it ages. It is not widely popular due to the need for careful identification and timing of harvest to ensure safety. Consumption should only follow expert guidance to mitigate health risks.

Scientific Classification of Giant puffball

Phylum

Club fungi

Class

Mushroom-forming fungi

Order

Gilled fungi

Family

Agaricaceae

Genus

Calvatia

Toxicity and Edibility of Giant puffball

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Is Giant puffball Toxic?

Giant puffball can cause mild poisoning in some people. The most common symptoms of poisoning follow ingestion of the mature mushroom, and are related to gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Also, the spores produced by the giant puffball can lead to lycoperdonosis, a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of these spores. The symptoms associated with the disease are nausea, increase heart rate, crepitant rales, and dyspnea (difficulty with breathing).

Is Giant puffball Toxic to Dogs?

The spores of giant puffball can severely poison dogs when they inhale them. Immediate medical help should be sought if you believe your dog has breathed in these spores. Symptoms include lethargy, pneumonia, and difficulty of breathing. Some fatalities have been reported. These large ball-shaped mushrooms deflate when pressed and may attract dogs to play with them causing them to breathe in the dangerous spores.

Edibility of Giant puffball

Giant puffball is an edible mushroom, but only when it is young and has a solid white interior. If the mushroom begins to yellow or produce spores, then it is no longer safe to eat. To prepare giant puffball, make sure to peel the skin off and avoid water as this mushroom is quite absorbent. This mushroom has a similar texture to tofu and is often added to salads and pasta.

Similar Species to Giant puffball

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Tips for Finding Giant puffball

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When is the Best Time to Find Giant puffball

Search for giant puffball from late summer to autumn when the ground is damp and after rain showers. Moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights provide ideal conditions for their growth.

What are the Ideal Soil Conditions for Giant puffball

Rich, well-drained soil with organic matter.

What are Some Tips for Finding Giant puffball

Examine the perimeters of meadows, fields, and grassy roadside verges where giant puffball often emerge.
Look for giant puffball in small troops or individually amongst nettles, briars, and rank vegetation in nutrient-rich areas.
Search around open woodlands and woodland edges, including steep-sided banks where giant puffball may be hiding.
Keep an eye out for circular arrangements as giant puffball can form fairy rings in grassy clearings.
Check underneath brush and within drainage ditches as giant puffball can also grow in such overlooked spots.

How to Clean and Preserve Giant puffball

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How to Clean Giant puffball

To clean giant puffball, use a damp cloth or a soft bristle brush, gently wiping to remove dirt. Rinse under cool, fresh running water and pat dry. Pay particular attention to the underside cap, where contaminants may linger.

Tips on Freezing Preservation of Giant puffball

Freezing Duration

10 - 12 months

Tips on Refrigeration Preservation of Giant puffball

Refrigerating Methods

Paper Bag Storage, Plastic Wrap Storage

Temperature

2 - 4 ℃

Refrigerating Humidity

85 - 95 %

Refrigerating Duration

1 - 3 weeks