Giant Puffball

Giant Puffball - Calvatia gigantea

Description

A very large white and smooth puffball, often over 50cm wide and several pounds in weight.  The shape is irregularly rounded.  It becomes brown and and the outer skin disintegrates when the spores mature.  It is attached to the ground by a root-like mycelial cord; once this breaks the spore mass is free to roll around and disperse.

Identification difficulty

size

Recording advice

Photograph in habitat.  Some indication of size is needed (e.g. your hand or foot)

Habitat

Nutrient-rich grassland, field-edges, tall vegetation, nettle beds etc.

When to see it

Usually seen in summer and autumn

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records