booniana (Western Giant Puffball) — Species | WeMush Taxonomy

booniana

Western Giant Puffball

Calvatia booniana is the western North American counterpart to the Giant Puffball. It grows to impressive sizes (up to 60 cm or more) but is easily distinguished by its surface texture. Unlike the smooth C. gigantea, C. booniana features a surface covered in large, polygonal, flat scales or warts that resemble a geodesic dome pattern. The fruiting body is roughly spherical to flattened-globose.

Edibility: Edible when young and pure white inside. The texture is firm, and it is prepared similarly to other large puffballs.

Habitat: Saprobic; grows in arid and semi-arid regions, often in open grassy areas, sagebrush steppes, and pastures. It is more tolerant of dry conditions than C. gigantea.

Difficulty: EXPERT

Cultivation Suitability

Preferred Substrates

Woody compost

Grass clippings

Arid soil mixes

Distribution

Western North America, particularly the Rocky Mountains and intermountain regions.

Known Strains (0)

No strains cataloged yet for this species.

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