Bill's Botanical Forays

Today at church my son A.J. pointed out a large fungus fruiting body in the flower bed just outside of the chapel. It is a Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea (Batsch ex Pers.) Lloyd). It is commonly found in Europe and North America, and is usually seen in later summer and early fall. Although this one is fairly impressive in size, it is no where near the record largest one ever found. They can be up to 28 inches in diameter and 44 pounds in weight. This one was about 12 inches long in its longest axis. It was shaped more like a potato than a ball.