E
enduro
Was out walking at 6.30am today with inlaws dog (Bramble) and found this puff ball growing in one of the fields on the farm. Have not seen one for years...Very nice sliced and fried with a bit of butter.
[h=2]Giant Puffball Mushroom Facts[/h]
[h=2]Giant Puffball Mushroom Facts[/h]
-
The latin name for the giant puffball is Calvatia gigantea. An older term, Langermannia gigantea, is no longer used.
- Giant puffballs are saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead organic matter. They're more likely found in meadows and grasslands than in the forest. They are always found growing on the ground rather than up in trees.
- They often re-appear in the same place each year. This has caused some people to suspect they may be mycorrhizal rather than saprotrophic, but this has not been proven.
- Puffballs are sometimes found in a large circle called a "fairy ring". Check out the page on fairy rings to learn more about this fun phenomenon.
- These mushrooms fruit in late summer to early fall. Despite their large size this happens quickly. The fruit body will appear in about a week's time.
- Young giant puffballs have a white, fleshy interior. They become brown and discolored when past their prime and ready to release spores (see the picture below). They are also not edible at this stage.
-
All puffball mushrooms bear spores inside the mushroom rather than through external gills.
- The exterior of the mushroom will eventually crack to release spores. This process is usually hurried along by weather, animals, and humans.
- A mature giant puffball contains trillions of spores!
- There are many types of puffballs but the giant variety are mainly found to the east of the Rocky Mountains. They are spread through the central and eastern United States, Canada, and Europe.
- Giant puffballs are well named! They typically grow between 10 and 70 cm (around 4 to 27 inches). One of the largest specimens on record was 150 cm (59 inches)!
