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Wm. Bates | all galleries >> A New Beginning...Picture A Day >> Click Here For June's Photos > Giant Fungus 06_14_05.jpg
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14-JUN-2005

Giant Fungus 06_14_05.jpg

Wanda just returned from a hike in the canyon. She found this mushroom on her hike. It weighs about 8 pounds and is the largest mushroom I can ever remember seeing.

Can anyone identify this fungus/mushroom?

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/125s f/6.3 at 70.0mm iso400 with Flash full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 21-Oct-2007 02:51
DANG NAP IT, LOOKS LIKE A TEN PIN!
Ruth Moorhead26-Mar-2007 03:02
We have a similar one here in the northern Rockies, called a sagebrush puffball. It's often at least as large, but usually flatter. Are you familiar with fungiphoto.com? Taylor Lockwood also presents a fabulous show in person, if you invite him.
Guest 21-Jun-2005 14:10
aw shucks

Wanda has a fun guy !!
Mumblix Grumph 16-Jun-2005 06:51
Good Grief!
Where did you find that? Jurrasaic Park?

And remember, like Bill Kliban said, "Never eat anything bigger than your head."
Wm. Bates16-Jun-2005 02:45
Peter, we didn't try eating the western giant puffball. Things I read indicated that if the flesh is turning yellow it is past its prime for eating. Plus, I was a little leery of eating wild mushrooms when I'm not positive what they are. After a little research I'm sure its a puffball and I can't find anything else for which it might be mistaken.
Peter Hollinger16-Jun-2005 02:36
Nice puffball, Wm. Did you try eating any? Or was it too ripe?
Guest 16-Jun-2005 00:26
Put that thing down now! It's an alien pod and any minute a hideous space creature is going to hatch out and devour Wanda!!
Lee Rudd15-Jun-2005 21:41
my that is huge! almost like a head that has been dug up!
Wm. Bates15-Jun-2005 13:36
Della, I'm pretty sure your correct. I did a little research last night and that was about the only thing that matched. I have seen puff balls before but never this large.
Della Huff15-Jun-2005 13:21
I think it's a Giant Puffball (from my nerdy days when I used to read audobon field guides for fun) : p
Robin Reid15-Jun-2005 13:16
Now you won't have to go out and buy a new soccer ball! ;-)
Nice catch showing Wanda's proud grin.
Guest 15-Jun-2005 11:27
Bill,
Don't know what kind of fungus it is, but boy what a pot of mushroom soup it would make.
Bruce
Ken 15-Jun-2005 09:05
I reckon that fungus is a large puffball, Bill... Don't ask me the proper gardening term for it...!! They grow solid as seen in your pic, but later dry out considerably and begin to wither and dry out. You can puncture them, either by hitting or kicking, and it will give off a fine brown powder, which are the spores for regeneration. We get them here in New Zealand, but I can't say I've seen one quite as big as that one.