Calvatia

Giant Puffballs

Calvatia is a genus of puffball fungi. Historically placed in the family Lycoperdaceae, modern molecular phylogenetics has nested this group within the family Agaricaceae. Unlike typical gilled mushrooms, Calvatia species produce spores internally within a gleba. As they mature, the outer skin (peridium) cracks and breaks away to release spores, rather than opening via a specific pore.