Calvatia gigantea    (Batsch:Pers.) Lloyd 

common name(s) : Giant Puffball 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Agaricomycetidae/Agaricales/Agaricaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Gasteromycetideae/Lycoperdales/Lycoperdaceae  

synonyms: Langermannia gigantea, Lycoperdon giganteum, Lycoperdon maximum, Bovista gigantea, Lasiospharea gigantea 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Calvatia maxima)  

edibility : edible

photo gallery of Calvatia gigantea
photo gallery of Calvatia gigantea potential confusions with Calvatia gigantea toxicity of Calvatia gigantea genus Calvatia  

The fruiting body is irregularly or regularly spherical, smooth, matt, white to brownish.

The fertile surface is internal: the spores are released as dust when mature.

It grows on the ground, in meadows, pastures.

The fruiting period takes place from July to December.
Dimensions: width of fruiting body approximately 36 cm (between 7 and 80 cm)
  total height approximately 44 cm (between 7 and 80 cm)

Distinctive features : sorry, no English description yet

Calvatia gigantea is rare and confined in the forest of Rambouillet, and is occasional, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Calvatia gigantea in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Calvatia gigantea in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18