Identifying White Puffballs (Calvatia candida)

Take great care when identifying wild plants and fungi, this blog is not a resource to be taken by itself and further resources will be linked. Consult other sources and double check. While foraging is an extremely rewarding and useful skill, numerous common plants and fungi can make you sick or kill you. Be absolutely sure of what you’re eating and, when gathering, ensure you leave enough not only to ensure the survival and growth of the species but also enough for others to enjoy, from the human and more-than-human communities. Also cultivate an awareness of contamination and pollution – wastewater runoff, spraying, exhaust fumes – as this should affect your decision to harvest.

The Mushroom

Calvatia candida is an edible species of puffball mushroom (Calvatia genus) found in all around the world. Calvatia comes from the Latin words “calvus” meaning “bald”, and “calvaria” meaning “dome of the skull”, referring to puffballs distinct smooth white appearance. Candida translates to “dazzling white”, also in Latin. This genus of fungi are saprophytic, consuming decaying organic matter for nutrients.

Description

This species has a white round or pear shaped cap, or irregularly globose, and will be up to 15cm in diameter depending on the age. The cap is covered in brown creases/markings that make it look as if the mushroom skin has been stretched. Puffball mushrooms lack a stipe but they will often have small rhizoids attaching them to the ground. The texture is smooth, not slimy, and slightly rubbery, and has a strong mushroomy odour. There is a slight distinction between the skin slightly peeling away from the flesh inside, the skin appears to become looser the older they get. The flesh inside is soft and rubbery and is pure white and will turn yellow brown as it ages. Only consume when the flesh is pure white. White puffball mushrooms will generally grow near each other. They have olive brown spores. When at maturity the outer layer will brown and dissolve, releasing the spores to be dispersed by wind.

Ecology

Calvatia candida grows best in grasses, meadows, and fields in sunny areas. We found ours in a rugby field in the Wellington region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Puffballs can generally be found growing through late summer into early autumn.

Nutritional/Medicinal Information

Puffballs have been long been used to dress wounds and stop bleeding. The spores were used by blacksmiths to treat burns and to staunch cuts.

Giant puffballs are the main source of the mucoprotein “calvacin” which is popularly used to treat cancerous tumours.

Puffballs are high in fibre and amino acids and low in calories.

Possible Lookalikes

Other puffballs will look very similar to Calvatia candida but are also edible when they are pure white when cut open.

Earthballs are a similar shape to puffballs and could be confused with them. Earthball’s are poisonous and can be identified by the dark inside when cut open.

Interesting Facts

Giant puffballs produce up to 7 trillion spores on average and it has been estimated that if two generations of spores grew into mushrooms it would be the equivalent to 800 times the volume of the earth.

Breathing in the spores of puffballs can cause Lycoperdonosis, a horrible lung disease, so care should be taken when harvesting/working with mature mushrooms.

Storage & Cooking

Puffballs should be cooked quite soon after harvesting or ideally stored in the fridge in a paper mushroom bag.

Don’t wash puffballs in water as the texture will change when it absorbs the water.

Ensure that the inside of the mushroom is pure white and free of maggots or bugs.

Calvatia candida is soft and has a distinct mushroom flavour. It can be used as a substitute for tofu or button mushrooms in stirfries, pastas, casseroles, stews, on pizza, in patties, or battered and fried! Enjoy my fellow foragers!

Further Reading