Nordic mushrooms – get to know the species
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Giant Puffball

Giant Puffball

Langermannia gigantea
Edible
★★☆☆☆
Taste rating: 2 out of 5

How to identify it

Cap
The fruiting body is very large, round to irregularly spherical and white when young.
Underside
There is no cap and no gills or tubes. The entire young fruiting body is filled with white, firm spore flesh.
Stem
There is no distinctly separate stem.
Smell
Mild in young specimens.

Occurrence and habitat

It grows in grassland, pasture, meadows, parks and other nutrient-rich open ground.

Look-alike species

These mushrooms can resemble Giant Puffball. Look closely at features, habitat and images to see the differences.

Warty puffball
Warty puffball
Lycoperdon perlatum
★★★★★
Fair edible mushroom

Compare several characteristics and always verify the identification.

Read more about Warty puffball ›

Preparation

Eat only when the entire interior is white and firm. Cut away the outer skin and cook the young parts thoroughly.

Recipe suggestions

Cut into thick slices and fry in butter. Serve with salt, pepper, parsley and lemon.

Images – study the mushroom from several angles

Click an image to display it as the main image.

⚠ Important safety information

When the flesh starts becoming yellow, olive-brown or powdery, the mushroom must not be eaten. Certain identification is important.

Facts and sources

Sources
Svampguiden; SLU Artdatabanken/Artfakta. Factual text compiled for Svampboken.
Checked batch 06 – factual text compiled against